PLAYOFFS: Athletics face Astros in Division Series
AL wild-card series.
The AL West champions lost the opener, then won on consecutive days and advanced to a Division Series against the rival Houston Astros starting Monday in Los Angeles. The winner of that matchup faces the New York Yankees or Tampa Bay for a spot in the World Series.
Sean Murphy hit a two-run homer in the fourth against Codi Heuer.
Oakland stopped a ninegame losing streak in winnertake-all postseason games, a major league record that dated to the 1973 World Series. The A’s had lost six straight playoff series since sweeping Minnesota in the 2006 Division Series.
Opening day starter in July, Frankie Montas pitched two innings for the win. Liam Hendriks closed out the game.
Luis Robert homered leading off the second then later added an RBI single for the White Sox. Loser Evan Marshall walked the bases loaded with a second straight free pass with two outs in the fifth to Marcus Semien before Pinder singled.
Cardinals vs. Padres
The Cardinals were well on their way to moving on to the Division Series as they led the Padres 6-2 in the sixth inning. But Fernando Tatis Jr. hit a three-run home run for the Padres and Manny Machado followed with a game-tying solo shot in the bottom of the sixth. The Padres led 9-6 in the eighth inning at press time on Thursday. The Cardinals won Game 1, 7-4, on Wednesday.
Marlins vs. Cubs, ppd.
CHICAGO — Game 2 of the National League wild-card series between the Chicago Cubs and Miami Marlins was postponed because of a forecast for rain on Thursday.
Miami leads 1-0 after winning the opener 5-1, and the teams will meet Friday.
If a Game 3 is needed, it would be played Saturday.
Dodgers vs. Brewers
Game 2 of the wild-card series saw the Dodgers and Brewers
were scoreless in the third inning at presstime. See the full story online at www.avpress.com.
Mookie Betts had two hits and an RBI, Corey Seager homered and Los Angeles beat Milwaukee in the opener of their NL wildcard series on Wednesday.
The Dodgers took a 2-0 lead on a leadoff double by Betts and four walks by left-hander Brent Suter in the first, tying for the most walks by a pitcher in a single inning in postseason history. Betts scored when Will Smith drew a four-pitch walk with the bases loaded. Seager walked and scored on AJ Pollock’s bases-loaded walk.
Yankees 10, Indians 9
DJ LeMahieu’s tiebreaking single in the ninth inning off Cleveland closer Brad Hand sent New York into the AL Division Series with a wild win in a rain-delayed Game 2 on Wednesday that started in September and ended in October.
At 4 hours, 50 minutes — even without the delays — it was the longest nine-inning game (regular season or postseason) in major league history.