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Houston scored seven runs on 12 hits, four of them home runs, in a 7-2 win over Cleveland in Minute Maid Park in Game 1 of the Astros and Indians’ ALDS matchup. Indians’ manager Terry Francona talked after the series opening loss about starter Corey Kluber giving up a total of three of the four homers his team allowed.
“The fourth inning was a really tough inning,” Francona said.
“I think they made him throw 33, 35 pitches. Just seemed like with his two-seamer, when he left it up, they made him pay. I think they pretty much did that with the whole staff. And when we made a mistake, they had the four home runs, and they showed us they can score runs getting hits also. But the damage was done on balls that were elevated.”
“Obviously, we had some explosive at-bats with the home run,” Astros’ skipper A.J. Hinch told reporters after the twin.
“But [Kluber is] not an easy guy to center up. You’ve got to be pretty disciplined on what side of the plate you pick. Which of his pitches that move all over the place that you’re going to focus on. And don’t miss the one or two or three mistakes that come from time to time.”
They didn’t miss them last night.
Carlos Carrasco will be tasked with trying to keep the ball in the yard in Game 2 in Minute Maid Park.
Gerrit Cole gets the nod for the ‘Stros in the second game of the best of five series which is set to start at 4:37 PM EDT in Houston.
Meanwhile, over in Boston, the Red Sox jumped out early in their matchup with New York’s Yankees and held on for a 5-4 in Game 1, with a home run by Aaron Judge in the top of the ninth making it a one-run game before Sox’ closer Craig Kimbrel, who came on to get the final out of the eighth as well, K’d three straight to end it.
“It’s about getting 27 outs. Having the lead. And we did it,” Red Sox’ skipper Alex Cora said after five relievers followed starter Chris Sale on the mound in Fenway Park.
David Price gets the start for the Sox tonight, with Masahiro Tanaka on the mound for the Yankees, who try to avoid falling behind 2-0 in a big game in the ALDS.
How big a game is this one for New York?
“Well, they are all big now,” Yankees’ manager Aaron Boone said.
“I mean, this is the playoffs. Wins are precious. You know, I think as much as it’s tough any time you lose a game in the postseason, you know, I think we can take away from this game that we kind of hung around, we battled. I like the way we continued to compete and give ourselves a chance. We always feel like with Tanaka on the mound, if he’s on top of his game, he can shut down anyone.
“So I think we’ll be in a good frame of mind, come to the ballpark tomorrow, and hopefully get out of here with a split.”
Enjoy your Postseason Saturday baseball, and don’t worry, real baseball without the DH will be back tomorrow...