The Capital

Astros returning to scene of the crime

- By Beth Harris

LOS ANGELES — The Astros are returning to the scene of the crime. TheDodgers­won’t be there, but their fans surely won’t let the visitors forget.

While the Dodgers head to Texas for the NL Division Series, their ballpark is hosting the AL Division Series in a postseason relocated due to the novel coronaviru­s pandemic.

The Athletics and pitcher Mike Fiers will be in Los Angeles, too. Fiers last year revealed the Astros’ sign-stealing plot during the 2017 World Series, which they won in seven games over the Dodgers and celebrated on their rival’s field.

Now, Fiers will be facing his old team in the best-of-five series that beginsMond­ay.

“Nobody’s mentioned his name,” first-year Astros manager Dusty Baker said Friday. “I haven’t heard Mike Fiers’ name all year until you just mentioned it.”

Three years has done little to stem the tide of scorn that has crashed over the Astros. They’ve beentarred­andfeather­edas cheaters by other teams and fans, even though the current mix of rookies and second-year players hardly resembles the Astros’ powerhouse

rosters of recent years.

“We’re doing it with an oddball group,” Astros reliever Brooks Raley said.

After winning 101, 103 and 107 games in the last three regular seasons, capturing the 2017World Series and losing the championsh­ip in seven games to the Nationals last year, the Astros stumbled through this shortened season at 29-31.

They swept the Twins in two games in the AL wild-card series with a group of many first- and second-year players filling the gaps created by injuries, slumps and departures.

“I felt like there was big relief after that first game,” Raley said. “We’re finding guys to step up and finding offense to come through.”

Both the Astros and A’s have played at the stadium recently. The A’s dropped two of three to the Dodgers from Sept. 22-24. The Astros split a two-game series with the NL West champions on Sept. 12-13.

Angry Dodgers fans greeted the Astros’ buses as the team pulled in, hoisting large garbage cans in the air, chanting andwaving signs. The Astros banged on a trash can to let their hitters know which pitch the opposing catcherwas calling for in theWorld Series.

 ?? ROGER STEINMAN/AP ?? Manager Dusty Baker Jr. leads the Astros against the Athletics in the AL Division Series starting Monday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.
ROGER STEINMAN/AP Manager Dusty Baker Jr. leads the Astros against the Athletics in the AL Division Series starting Monday at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

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