Dodgers, Astros push back

ARLINGTON, TEXAS » Max Muncy’s grand slam capped a record-setting 11-run first inning for the Los Angeles Dodgers, who coasted to a 15-3 rout of the Atlanta Braves on Wednesday night that cut their National League Championship Series deficit to 2 games to 1.

The slam by Muncy off Grant Dayton was the third homer in the first, the highest-scoring inning in a major league postseason game. It was among a franchiserecord five homers for the Dodgers, who set a team record for postseason runs.

Joc Pederson hit a threerun homer off starter Kyle Wright to start his four-hit night, and Edwin Rios went deep on next pitch.

Corey Seager had a pair of RBI hits in the opening outburst, then added a solo homer in the third as the Dodgers built a 15-0 lead — the first teamwith that many runs in the first three innings of a postseason game.

Astros stay alive

George Springer broke a tie with a two-run homer, José Altuve homered and hit an RBI double, and Zack Greinke escaped a bases-loaded jam for the Houston Astros, who beat theTampa BayRays 4-3 on Wednesday night to stay alive in the AL Championship Series.

With Altuve atoning for his poor defense this series, the Astros finally got their offense going after being pushed to the brink of a sweep. Seeking their third pennant in four seasons, they trail 3-1 going into Game 5 on Thursday afternoon.

The Rays remain one win from going to the World Series for the second time in franchise history.

Greinke, bothered by a sore arm in the Division Series against Oakland, made only one big mistake when he allowed a two-run homer to rookie slugger Randy Arozarena that tied the game at 2 in the fourth.