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Braves rally to take Game One
Coming into Tuesday’s NLDS Game One, Braves starter Max Fried had allowed more than two runs just once all season, and in that start he only allowed three. The Marlins broke that trend on the biggest stage they’ve seen so far in this crazy year. Although Atlanta took the early 1-0 lead thanks to a leadoff homer from Ronald Acuña Jr., Miami answered back to tie it in the second and then put three on the board in the third to make it a 4-1 ballgame. The Braves did get back to within one in the bottom half of the third, but it was all pitching from there and the score stayed stuck at 4-3. That was the case until we got to the bottom of the seventh, where Marlins manager Don Mattingly stuck with starter Sandy Alcántara too long into the seventh. It was another instance of the no days off format having an affect. Alcantára wound up giving up two hits to start the inning before Yimi García came on to try and escape the jam. Instead, he gave up a hit to Marcell Ozuna that tied the game before allowing a three-run shot to Travis d’Arnaud. that was the difference, and Atlanta ended up with the 9-5 win. Game Two will be Wednesday at 2:08 PM ET.
Astros take 2-0 series lead
The Astros struggled all regular season, but they have turned it on at the right time. Well, for them at least. After slugging their way to a Game One win over the Athletics on Monday, they are now just one win away from advancing to the ALCS. Leading the way for Houston was George Springer. The outfielder, and impending free agent, hit a two-run homer in the third to give Houston their first lead of the day, and he smacked a solo shot in the fifth to extend said lead. The Astros jumped out to a 5-2 advantage midway through the game, and that was all they needed. Framber Valdez was phenomenal over seven innings and the bullpen shut the door in the eighth and ninth. Oakland will try to keep the series alive on Wednesday starting at 3:35 PM ET.
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Rays even up series against Yankees
In the series none of us want either side to win, things evened up after New York ran away with Game One. In this one, New York tried to out-Rays the Rays, sending rookie Deivi García to the mound but as a decoy of sorts. The righty only tossed one inning before the left-handed J.A. Happ came in to start the second. It didn’t work. Happ had himself a rough night, allowing four runs without completing his third inning of work. Tampa ended up scoring in each of the first three innings and put seven runs on the board total. On the other side, Giancarlo Stanton did smash a pair of homers, but beyond that Tyler Glasnow and company got the job done. Things got dicey in the ninth when Peter Fairbanks started the inning with very little idea where the ball was going, but he settled down and got Aaron Judge to end the game with the tying run on first. The 7-5 victory tied up the series, and Game Three will be Wednesday at 7:10 PM ET.
Dodgers rally for Game One win
Perhaps the most anticipated Division Series is the late one between the Dodgers and Padres. San Diego got some bad news almost immediately in this series opener as starter Mike Clevinger, who missed the Wildcard Series, was removed without any outs being recorded in the second with his velocity cratering. The Padres are also missing Dinelson Lamet, putting them down their two best pitchers. Despite that, they kept the Dodgers off the board through four, both in terms of runs and hits. They kept the combined no-hitter alive into the fifth, too, but the shutout wasn’t so lucky. Leading 1-0 heading into the inning, L.A. had two on with two out for Cody Bellinger after a pair of walks, and the 2019 NL MVP hit a grounder to second. It should’ve ended the inning, but instead Jake Cronenworth threw it away and the Dodgers tied the game at one. In the sixth, the Dodgers got their first hit, and then strung a bunch together for a four-run inning. The Padres offense couldn’t match it, having their best chance in the second when they had bases loaded and just one out before two strikeouts ended their chance without a run, and the Dodgers went home with a 5-1 win. Game Two will be on Wednesday at 9:08 PM ET.