4 HRs, Verlander lift Houston past Indians

HOUSTON» It’s October and George Springer, Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman are all hitting home runs once again, helping the Houston Astros to a postseason win.

A year after launching a World Seriesrecord 15 homers in winning their first championship, the Astros picked up right where they left off, hitting four home runs to power past the Cleveland Indians 72 Friday in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.

Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who didn’t waste any time displaying the same power that carried them to last year’s title.

Much was made about the pitching prowess these teams possess in the days leading up to this game. But it was a bunch of longballs to put the Astros ahead in this bestoffive series.

“As much as I’ve heard different opinions about our offense, it’s pretty long, it’s pretty good, it’s pretty potent,” manager AJ Hinch said. “Case in point today.”

Houston’s pop backed up a solid start by Justin Verlander, who bested Corey Kluber in a matchup of Cy Young Awardwinning aces in the first postseason meeting between these teams.

Verlander took a nohitter into the sixth inning and got his 12th playoff win. He allowed two hits and two runs in 5 L innings — the Indians finished with only three hits, all singles.

Kluber, a twotime Cy Young winner who was coming off his first 20win season, was tagged for three home runs in 4M innings. It was a repeat performance from last October’s ALDS, when he made two starts against the Yankees and left with a 12.79 ERA.

Game 2 is Saturday in Houston. Gerrit Cole starts for the Astros against Carlos Carrasco.

The Astros hit 27 homers last postseason — Springer hit five in the World Series and set a record by connecting in four straight games on his way to winning the MVP award.

Bregman, coming off a breakout year, got Houston’s first hit with his drive to the Crawford Boxes in left field to start a tworun fourth inning.

“The only thing I can say about him is without him we wouldn’t be here,” Altuve said.

The 103win Astros were still up 20 when Springer led off the fifth with a homer. That made him just the third player in major league history to homer in five straight postseason games.

“I’m happy that I was able to help us win in all of those games and be a sparkplug,” Springer said.

Two pitches later Altuve, last year’s AL MVP, connected for his eighth career postseason homer. He began last year’s playoffs with three home runs in the ALDS opener against Boston.

Kluber watched stonefaced as Altuve headed for first and shook his head slightly as he rounded the bases.