With Astros’ win, Twins’ playoff loss streak hits 17
White Sox silence A’s offense, while Yankees dominate
Tarnished by scandal at the start of the year and below average during this pandemic-abbreviated season, Houston showed up for the playoffs with its usual confidence and poise.
Just like that, the team has the edge on Minnesota in an elimination game.
Jose Altuve drew a walk to force in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning Tuesday after a two-out error by shortstop Jorge Polanco, and the Astros beat the Twins 4-1 to open their AL playoff series and stretch Minnesota’s all-time postseason record to 17 straight losses.
Minnesota’s previous win in the playoffs was notched in New York on Oct. 5, 2004, in Game 1 of the AL division series.
Framber Valdez, who made 10 regular-season starts for the Astros, pitched five scoreless innings in relief of Zack Greinke for the victory to keep the bullpen fresh for the rest of the series. Valdez allowed his only two hits with one out in the ninth, but Willians Astudillo grounded into a double play to end the game.
Kenta Maeda turned in five shutout innings for the Twins, his longest career appearance in the playoffs before leaving with a 1-0 lead, after 40-year-old designated hitter Nelson Cruz hit an RBI double in the third inning off Greinke that scored Max Kepler from first base with a headfirst slide into home plate.
■ RAYS 3, Blue Jays 1: Blake Snell took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and top-seeded Tampa Bay opened the playoffs Tuesday with a victory over Toronto. Manuel Margot hit a two-run homer and Randy Arozarena tripled and scored on a wild pitch to give Snell and a dominant Rays bullpen all the offensive support needed to begin the best-of-three wild-card matchup. Rowdy Tellez’s pinch-hit single gave Toronto a spark. Cavan Biggio followed with a double before Bo Bichette delivered his sacrifice fly to make it 3-1.
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Lucas Giolito dazzled in his postseason debut, stymieing Oakland through six perfect innings, wining the opener of their best-of-three wild-card series Tuesday. José Abreu hit a two-run homer and Yasmani Grandal homered in the eighth. Ramón Laureano’s groundout in the eighth scored Oakland’s lone run.
■ Yankees 12, INDIANS 3: Aaron Judge smashed a tone-setting, two-run homer on Shane Bieber’s fourth pitch, Gerrit Cole struck out 13 and New York opened the AL playoffs with a resounding win over Cleveland. José Ramírez pulled the Indians to 3-1 with a two-out RBI double, his 12th straight hit for extra bases. However, Cole struck out Carlos Santana with runners at second and third to end Cleveland’s only threat of the game.
White Sox 4, ATHLETICS 1: