Ex-O’s catcher dead at 76

Andy Etchebarren, who won two World Series with the Baltimore Orioles, died Saturday at age 76.

His death was announced by the York Revolution, which he managed to two Atlantic League championships before his retirement in 2012. His cause of death was not released.

Etchebarren was a lighthitting catcher — he averaged just .235 over 948 career games — but he handled some of baseball’s best pitchers.

In 1970, the Orioles staff had three 20-game winners — Jim Palmer, Dave McNally and Mike Cuellar — and won the World Series. Etchebarren appeared in 78 games that year, and as a rookie in 1966, he played in 121 in another World Series-winning season.

He helped to guide a staff in 1971 that had four 20-game winners with the addition of Pat Dobson.

ASTROS 3, RAYS 1 (LATE SAT.)

Gerrit Cole set a club postseason record with 15 strikeouts, while battery mate Martin Maldonado delivered both at the plate and behind it as the Houston Astros held on for a 3-1 win over the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in Game 2 of their American League Division Series on Saturday.

Cole (1-0) became just the seventh pitcher in postseason history to record at least 15 strikeouts, the first since Roger Clemens posted 15 against the Seattle Mariners in Game 4 of the 2000 AL Championship Series. Mike Scott held the franchise postseason record for strikeouts with 14 set Oct. 8, 1986, against the New York Mets in the National League Championship Series.

“He’s unbelievable,” Astros shortstop Alex Bregman said of Cole afterward. “Seriously, he’s got the best stuff in baseball. He’s a bulldog on the mound. He’s more prepared than anybody.”