Astros, Dodgers win to advance in MLB playoffs, Red Sox roll
Springer smash two solo HRs in Houston’s 11-3 romp over Cleveland
ATLANTA: Defending champion Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced in the Major League Baseball playoffs with lopsided road triumphs Monday while the Boston Red Sox routed the New York Yankees.
George Springer smashed two solo home runs in Houston’s 11-3 romp over the Cleveland Indians, while Manny Machado belted a three-run homer and a runscoring double to power the Dodgers over the Atlanta Braves by a score of 6-2.
And Boston’s Brock Holt hit for the first playoff game cycle-a single, double, triple and homer-and drove in five runs as the Red Sox hammered out 18 hits in a 16-1 humbling of the host Yankees.
“It was a fun night,” Holt said. “Offensively, we were clicking on all cylinders. Tonight is a night I will remember for a long time.” Houston completed a sweep of Cleveland in the best-of-five American League division series, holding the Tribe to six runs on 13 hits over three games.
“It’s awesome, a great day for us as a team,” Springer said. “I’m happy to be heading home.” The Astros will face either the Red Sox or Yankees in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series with the winner advancing to the World Series.
Andrew Benintendi smacked a three-run double to pace a seven-run fourth inning for the Red Sox, who led New York 2-1 and could advance by winning today. “This was a special group from day one,” Holt said. “As tonight shows, we can do some special things.”
The Astros outlasted the Dodgers in a seventh-game showdown to win last year’s World Series for their first championship and could yet face a rematch with Los Angeles. The Dodgers eliminated the Braves in four games and will face the Milwaukee Brewers starting Friday in the National League Championship Series to decide the other World Series berth.
“Doesn’t get better than this,” said Machado, acquired at mid-season from major league-worst Baltimore. “Just enjoying everything. I just try to enjoy the moment. “Two good ball clubs facing off in the championship. It’s going to be great.”
Springer’s solo homers in the fifth and eighth innings gave him eight homers in nine playoff games in a streak dating to last year’s title run, matching a major league playoff record shared by Reggie Jackson, Jim Thome and Carlos Beltran, who did it most recently in 2004.
“Personal results don’t mean anything now. It’s all about how can I help us win,” said Springer. “It’s about having fun and doing whatever it takes for us to win.”
A two-run double to left field by Marwin Gonzalez in the seventh put the Astros ahead 4-2 and Springer’s solo blast began a six-run eighth inning for Houston, which also included a three-run homer by Carlos Correa.
BRAVES OUSTED
In Atlanta, the Dodgers took the lead in the first inning on Machado’s run-scoring double. The Braves answered in the fourth on a two-run single to left field by pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki. But Los Angeles reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the sixth when pinch-hitter David Freese, the 2011 World Series Most Valuable Player with the champion St. Louis Cardinals, smacked a tworun single to centerfield.
Machado blasted his three-run homer in the seventh for a 6-2 lead and Dodgers closer Kenley Jansen baffled Atlanta batters for the final outs.
YANKEES HUMBLED
Boston jumped ahead 3-0 after three innings before breaking open the game in the fourth. Holt and Vazquez singled and Jackie Bradley walked to load the bases, prompting New York to remove Luis Severino for relief pitcher Lance Lynn, who walked Mookie Betts to plate another Boston run.
Benintendi smacked his three-run double down the right-field line and scored on a Steve Peace single that set up Holt’s two-run triple for a 10-0 Boston lead. No team has rallied from more than an eight-run deficit to win a playoff game in major league history and the Yankees never threatened to be the first. Holt doubled in a run and completed his cycle with a two-run homer in the ninth. — AFP