NATIONAL LEAGUE WILD-CARD GAME 1 SCORES…
ATLANTA 1 – Cincinnati 0 (13 innings)… Freddie Freeman singled home Cristian Pache with the winning run in the bottom of the 13th inning as the Braves outlasted the Reds in the longest scoreless duel in postseason history. The game featured a showdown between Atlanta starter Max Fried and Cincinnati’s Trevor Bauer in a matchup of between Cy Young-contenders. The teams combined for a postseason record 37 strikeouts, including 21 by the Braves. Atlanta will send Ian Anderson (3-2) to the mound in today’s Game 2. Fellow righthander Luis Castillo (4-6) gets the start for Cincinnati.
Miami 5 – CHI. CUBS 1… Corey Dickerson blasted a three-run homer as the Marlins scored all five runs in the top of the seventh inning to put away the Cubs. Sandy Alcantara allowed a run on three hits over 6-2/3 innings. Sixto Sanchez (3-2) gets the start for Miami in Game 2 today. Yu Darvish (8-3) takes the hill for Chicago in a matchup of righthanders.
St. Louis 7 – SAN DIEGO 4… Paul Goldschmidt hit a two-run homer during a four-run top of the first inning and the Cardinals fought off the Padres. Matt Carpenter lifted a sacrifice fly and singled home a run. Adam Wainwright (5-3) takes the mound for the Padres in today’s Game 2. He’ll be opposed by fellow righthander Zach Davies (7-4).
L.A. DODGERS 4 – Milwaukee 2… Corey Seager smacked a solo homer and Mookie Betts doubled home a run as the Dodgers clipped the Brewers. Billy Smith and AJ Pollock drew bases-loaded walks in the first. L.A. sends lefthander Clayton Kershaw (6-2) to the mound today. He’ll be opposed by Milwaukee righthander Brandon Woodruff (3-5).
AMERICAN LEAGUE WILD-CARD GAME 2 SCORES…
Houston 3 – MINNESOTA 1… Carlos Correa cracked a go-ahead solo homer in the top of the seventh inning and the Astros held on to sweep the best-of-three series and leave the Twins with 18 straight postseason losses. Cristian Javier provided three innings of hitless relief to get the win. The Astros await the winner of the Oakland-Chicago White Sox wild-card series in the AL Divisional Series.
TAMPA BAY 8 – Toronto 2… Hunter Renfroe unloaded a grand slam in the bottom of the second inning followed Mike Zunino’s two-run shot and the Rays coasted past the Blue Jays to complete a series sweep. Tyler Glasnow allowed two runs on six hits over six innings. Tampa Bay will battle the New York Yankees in the AL Divisional Series.
N.Y. Yankees 10 – CLEVELAND 9… DJ LeMahieu singled home Gio Urshela with the decisive run during a two-run top of the ninth inning and the Yankees slugged their way past the Indians for a sweep of the series. Urshela unloaded a grand slam. Gary Sanchez blasted a three-run homer. Giancarlo Stanton added a solo blast.
OAKLAND 5 – Chi. White Sox 3… The Athletics held off the White Sox to force today’s decisive Game 3 in Oakland. Neither team has announced a starter. Marcus Semien homered with a runner aboard in the bottom of the second inning and Khris Davis added a solo shot in the fourth. Mark Cahna’s leaping catch at the wall robbed Yoan Moncada of a three-run homer in the third. Oakland starter Chris Bassitt surrendered a run on six hits over seven innings.