LDS Game 1s: Yordan Alvarez Cracks Walk-Off for Astros in Memorable Night of LDS Action
Four Game 1s decided by seven total runs? The Phillies win again? A walk-off comeback? Pump some October into my veins and sign me up for the LDS. It’s about to get crazy. Tuesday night handed out all four Divisional Series Game 1s, and you missed a moment of madness if you blinked. The Yankees and Dodgers handled business while the Phillies stole Game 1, but Yordan Alvarez and the Astros had the last laugh via Yordan Alvarez's walk-off homer in Houston. Let’s rewind a wild night of baseball.
Gm 1: Astros def. Mariners (8-7)
The feel-good Mariners got off to a hot start last night in Houston with an early message for Justin Verlander. Julio Rodriguez and Ty France were teeing off. Seattle hung six runs on JV before taking a 7-3 lead into the 8th inning. That’s when Houston hit another gear. Alex Bregman crushed a two-run homer to close the gap. In the 9th, it was the man of the night with a city holding its breath. Trailing 7-5 with two on and two out in the bottom of the 9th, Yordan Alvarez sent an 0-1 pitch to the upper deck for a three-run walk-off blast. Air Yordan! Alvarez finished the night 3-for-5 with 5 RBIs and a moment he’ll never forget. The Astros’ win probability jumped from 9% to 100% with one swing — the largest single-play escalation in win probability in MLB playoff history. HOU Leads Series (1-0)
Gm 1: Yankees def. Guardians (4-1)
The Yankees got it done in the Bronx behind a masterpiece from Gerrit Cole. The star pitcher threw eight strikeouts over six-plus innings with just four hits and one blemish — a home run by Steven Kwan in the third inning. New York trailed 1-0 after Kwan’s blast, but the Yankees didn’t blink. They answered with a run of their own in the bottom of the third before adding three more in the fifth and sixth. Giancarlo Stanton and Aaron Judge were held hitless, but it didn’t matter thanks to Cole’s electric outing. NYY Leads Series (1-0)
Gm 1: Phillies def. Braves (7-6)
The red-hot Phillies are still scorching after taking Game 1 on the road in Atlanta against the defending champs. Philly got a 3-for-3 night from Bryce Harper and a power performance from Nick Castellanos (3-for-5, 3 RBIs) to rock Braves pitcher Max Fried (3 IP, 8 H, 6 R) and tally a 7-3 lead heading into the sixth inning. Atlanta got a three-run shot from Matt Olson off Zack Eflin in the 9th to make things interesting, but Eflin ultimately got the save. Philly is 3-0 in the postseason. PHI Leads Series (1-0)
Gm 1: Dodgers def. Padres (5-3)
The nightcap out west was void of too much drama as the Dodgers grabbed a 5-0 lead early off the bats of Trea Turner and Will Smith. Padres pitcher Mike Clevinger didn't last past the third inning. Meanwhile, Dodgers ace Julio Urias tossed four innings of shutout ball before a three-run fifth inning that ended his night. But that was where the scoring stopped for San Diego. The Dodgers are off to a good start as the No. 1 overall seed, and Clayton Kershaw gets the ball in Game 2. LAD Leads Series (1-0)
Tonight’s Schedule (NLDS)
Gm 2: Phillies at Braves (4:35 pm ET)
Gm 2: Padres at Dodgers (8:37 pm ET)
Additional Storylines
Yahoo! Sports: Yordan Alvarez’s Mammoth 3-Run Walk-Off Completes Wild Astros Rally
FOX Sports: Gerrit Cole Sets Tone in Yankees’ Game 1 ALDS Win
USA Today: Yankees Josh Donaldson Thrown Out After Thinking He Hit HR
