Rob Issa, FISM News
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The defending American League champion Houston Astros opened their postseason with a dramatic comeback win over the Seattle Mariners.
Down 4-0 early and 7-5 to start the bottom of the ninth Tuesday, the Astros won it when Yordan Alvarez hit a three-run homer with two outs off 2021 Cy Young Award winner Robbie Ray.
WHO IS YORDADDY? pic.twitter.com/7VlgMwNFy6
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 11, 2022
The Astros had been 0-48 in their postseason history when trailing by more than a run after eight innings before Alvarez blasted the 0-1 pitch into the upper deck with his Cuban parents in attendance.
“I think it’s one of the most special moments that I’ve had in my career, having them there, and even for just the city of Houston,” Alvarez said through a translator. “They know that we’re a team that never gives up.”
The left-handed Ray, typically a starter, entered the game specifically to face Alvarez, a strategy manager Scott Servais discussed with Ray before the series. Ray was 12-12 with a 3.71 ERA this season after winning the Cy Young Award with the Toronto Blue Jays last season.
“It was something going into the series where we were at, looking at our rotation, where we were going to head, and talking with Robbie about using him out of the bullpen as a bullet, so to speak, for that type of scenario,” Servais said. “You know, bringing in a lefty against Alvarez, although Alvarez is one of the better hitters in the league.”
Dodgers top Padres in battle of Southern California
Trea Turner wasted no time, going 2-for-4 with a first-inning home run followed later by a double, and the Los Angeles Dodgers opened their National League Division series with a 5-3 win over the San Diego Padres.
Trea Turner goes deep to put the Dodgers out in front! pic.twitter.com/dE258XK1DZ
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) October 12, 2022
Julio Urías, the 17-game winner, tossed five innings and the Dodgers got four scoreless innings from their bullpen after the Padres turned a 5-0 deficit into a two-run game.
Chris Martin finished with his third save of the season. Craig Kimbrel, the longtime dominant closer, was left off the Dodgers’ roster for this best-of-five series because he was struggling on the mound.
The Dodgers were 14-5 against the Padres in the regular season.
“We’ve seen a lot of them lately, especially in the last month or so,” Turner said. “Kind of knew what to expect. Still have to execute and still have to get the results, but I think we just were ourselves and didn’t give anything away.”
Yankees beat Guardians in the Bronx
In New York, Harrison Bader and Anthony Rizzo hit homers to back Gerrit Cole and the Yankees defeated the Cleveland Guardians 4-1.
Harrison Bader’s first home run as a Yankee ties the game in the playoffs! pic.twitter.com/Ne7x8e9SKz
— Talkin' Yanks (@TalkinYanks) October 12, 2022
Cole gave up one run in 6 1/3 innings to earn the win in his first postseason game for the Yankees in the Bronx.
“It was just a really awesome experience,” Cole said. “Sometimes when you feel the crowd or the energy, it sometimes can become a little easier just to quiet things down because it’s so loud. I don’t know if that makes sense, but it does to me.”
The Guardians, who swept Tampa Bay in the wild-card round, couldn’t get going on offense.
Phillies stop Braves’ comeback attempt short
In Atlanta, the defending World Series champion Braves fell to the Philadelphia Phillies 7-6 in their series opener.
Nick Castellanos had three hits, drove in three runs, and made an excellent catch in the ninth inning for the Phillies, who held on after building a 7-1 lead.
Also NICK CASTELLANOS ARE YOU KIDDING WITH THIS CATCH pic.twitter.com/MLpgZnDLel
— Philadelphia Phillies (@Phillies) October 11, 2022
The Phillies have won three straight games to open their first postseason since 2011.
“I hope that’s the start of something because he’s been out for a long time,” manager Rob Thomson said of Castellanos, who missed most of September with an oblique injury. “Maybe he’s really getting his timing back now.”
The Braves now must face Philadelphia’s two aces, Zack Wheeler and Aaron Nola, as they look to advance in the NL playoffs.
Next Up:
(all times Eastern)
Wednesday:
Braves (0-1) vs. Phillies (1-0), 4:35 p.m., FOX
Dodgers (1-0) vs. Padres (0-1), 8:37 p.m., FS1
Thursday:
Astros (1-0) vs. Mariners (0-1), 3:37 p.m., TBS
Yankees (1-0) vs. Guardians (0-1), 7:37 p.m., TBS