Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros win again
LOSANGELES» Back-to-back home runs off back-to-back pitches. The Houston Astros can’t miss these days.
George Springer hit two homers and Houston kept making more noise in the playoffs, beating the Oakland Athletics 5-2 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.
Martín Maldonado also went deep for Houston, which needs one win to reach its fourth straight AL Championship Series. Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Wednesday, when Houston is the home team in the neutral site matchup.
“With every victory, the energy and the confidence grows,” first-year Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re expecting good things to happen.”
Springer put Houston ahead to stay with a two-run, two-out drive in the third on a second straight 90-degree day at Dodger Stadium.
“You don’t know if you’re ever going to get back here, so the times you’re here you might as well try and have fun,” Springer said.
Houston went back-toback in the fifth, extending the lead to 5-2.
Maldonado’s solo shot chased loser Sean Manaea in his first appearance this postseason. Yusmeiro Petit came in, and Springer connected for his second homer of the game. Maldonado yelled and raised his right arm in celebration from his seat in the dugout.
“Just a couple bad pitches,” Manaea said. “I know we are going to figure this thing out and turn it around.”
Springer’s 17 postseason homers tied Nelson Cruz
and Jim Thome for most through a player’s first 54 career postseason games. Five have come at Dodger Stadium, where the Astros beat the Dodgers in the 2017 World Series.
“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff,” Springer said. “I’d much rather us win.” BRAVES 9, MARLINS 5 » Ronald Acuña Jr. made history with his leadoff homer, Travis d’Arnaud hit a tiebreaking shot in Atlanta’s huge seventh inning and the Braves beat Miami in Game 1 of the NL Division Series.
D’Arnaud also doubled and singled in driving in four
runs and Dansby Swanson homered during a six-run seventh to help power Atlanta.
After shutting out Cincinnati for 22 innings during a two-game sweep in the wildcard round, the Braves relied on their bats in this opener.
The Braves trailed 4-3 in the seventh before Austin Riley and Acuña hit consecutive singles with no outs to chase Miami starter Sandy Alcantara.
Yimi Garcia took over and Freddie Freeman grounded into a forceout that left runners at the corners. Marcell Ozuna lined a single to left that made it 4-all.