Abreu rockets Astros into another ALCS
José Abreu homered for the third time in two games, a two-run rocket in the fourth inning that launched the Astros to their seventh straight AL Championship Series appearance with a 3-2 win Wednesday night in Minneapolis that eliminated the Twins in Game 4 of their AL Division Series.
José Urquidy gave the defending World Series champions another solid postseason start, withstanding homers by Royce Lewis in the first inning and Edouard Julien in the sixth to hand the ball to the bullpen.
Hector Neris and Bryan Abreu combined for five strikeouts over 2‚ hitless innings. Ryan Pressly struck out the side in the ninth. Pressly froze Max Kepler with a full-count fastball to end it.
Michael Brantley got the Astros started with a solo shot in the second off Joe Ryan.
Diamondbacks sweep Dodgers
The Diamondbacks rode a record-setting barrage of solo homers in the third inning in Phoenix to a 4-2 win in Game 3 of the NLDS, sweeping the 100-win Dodgers out of the playoffs. Sixth-seeded Arizona returns to the NLCS for the first time since 2007 and has won all five of its postseason games.
The Diamondbacks’s postseason-record homers in an inning came off Lance Lynn — solo shots by Geraldo Perdomo, Ketel Marte, Christian Walker, and Gabriel Moreno.
The NL West champion Dodgers rallied for two runs in the seventh on two-out RBI singles from Chris Taylor and Kiké Hernández but got no closer. Will Smith had a one-out single in the ninth off closer Paul Sewald, but two fly outs set off an Arizona celebration.
Los Angeles stars Mookie Betts and Freddie Freeman finished the series 0 for 11 and 1 for 10, respectively.
Harper, Phillies lead NLDS
Bryce Harper answered Orlando Arcia’s mockery with a mammoth three-run homer and a solo shot, glaring at the shortstop on each trot around the bases, and the Phillies beat the Braves, 10-2, in Game 3 to take a 2-1 lead in their NL Division Series.
Nick Castellanos joined Harper in homering twice as Philadelphia rebounded from its disappointing Game 2 loss in Atlanta. Trea Turner and Brandon Marsh also went deep.
Aaron Nola (2-0) and four relievers combined to push the 104-win Braves to the brink of elimination. The Phillies can advance to a second straight NLCS with a win Thursday.
Harper atoned for a Game 2-ending baserunning blunder. After that game, Arcia reportedly cracked, “ha-ha, attaboy, Harper.”
Steinbrenner on Yankees
Yankees owner Hal Steinbrenner said personnel changes are possible following their worst season in three decades. “Anything’s possible,” he said in New York. “There’s a lot more discussions to be had.” . . . Mets shortstop Francisco Lindor had right elbow surgery and should be ready for spring training.