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Astros, Dodgers win to advance in MLB playoffs, Red Sox roll
NEW YORK, Oct 9, 2018 (BSS/AFP) – 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 run-
scoring 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
Tuesday.
“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.
MORE/MR/ 1010 hrs
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“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 two-run 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.
BSS/AFP/MR/ 1010 hrs