Dodgers reach 3rd straight NLCS
Pinch hitter David Freese hit a go-ahead two-run single in the sixth inning, Manny Machado added a three-run home run in the seventh and the visiting Dodgers reached the National League Championship Series for the third season in a row with a 6-2 victory Monday against the Braves.
The result enabled the Dodgers to wrap up their NL Division Series 3-1 and set up an NLCS showdown against the Brewers beginning Friday at Miller Park. The Dodgers lost to the Cubs in the NLCS in 2016, then beat them in the NLCS last season before losing to the Astros in the World Series.
‘‘We all know that there’s a lot more work to be done,’’ Dodgers manager Dave Roberts said. ‘‘We have eight more wins to go.’’
The Dodgers took a 1-0 lead on an RBI double by Machado in the first, but the Braves got a tworun single from pinch hitter Kurt Suzuki in the fourth and loaded the bases with one out in the fifth before Ryan Madson relieved Rich Hill and pitched out of trouble.
The Dodgers’ offense then came alive in the next two innings, capped by Machado’s blast. It was the Dodgers’ eighth homer of the series.
The Braves, who were making their first postseason appearance since 2013, have lost nine consecutive playoff series since defeating the Astros in an NLDS in 2001.
Red Sox 16, Yankees 1
Brock Holt became the first player in major-league history to hit for the cycle in a playoff game and drove in five runs, Nathan Eovaldi allowed one run and five hits in seven innings and the Red Sox pounded out 18 hits on their way to crushing the host Yankees and grabbing a 2-1 lead in their ALDS. Game 4 is scheduled for Tuesday at Yankee Stadium.
Holt had a single and a tworun triple in a seven-run fourth and an RBI double in a threerun eighth before completing his cycle with a two-run homer against backup catcher Austin Romine in the ninth. He pointed to a euphoric Red Sox dugout as he rounded the bases.
Six Red Sox scored two or more runs, six had two or more hits and four had two or more RBI.
Astros 11, Indians 3
George Springer hit two solo homers, Carlos Correa added a three-run blast and the visiting Astros scored 10 runs in the last three innings on their way to trouncing the Indians and completing a three-game sweep of their American League Division Series.
The Astros will play the winner of the ALDS between the Red Sox and Yankees in the AL Championship Series, which begins Saturday.
After Francisco Lindor hit a tiebreaking homer to give the Indians a 2-1 lead in the fifth, the Astros took control. They scored three times in the seventh — helped by two throwing errors by reliever Trevor Bauer — before Springer and Correa homered in a six-run eighth that blew the game open.