The Rays are up 2-1 in their AL Division Series after blasting three more home runs in an 8-4 trouncing of the Yankees. Kevin Kiermaier provided the big blow with a three-run homer off losing pitcher Masahiro Tanaka to break a 1-1 tie. Randy Arozarena added a solo shot to chase Tanaka an inning later, and Michael Perez smacked a two-run shot against Chad Green in the sixth. Charlie Morton gave Tampa Bay five strong innings, striking out six and allowing one earned run and four hits. Giancarlo Stanton slammed a two-run blast in the eighth for the Yankees. He’s the first player in major league history to homer in each of his first five games of a postseason. The Rays can finish off the Bombers on Thursday.
The Oakland Athletics forced a Game 4 in their AL Division Series by downing the Houston Astros, 9-7. Chad Pinder supplied the Athletics’ fifth and final home run of the day, a three-run blast in the seventh. The A’s went ahead to stay in the eighth when Sean Murphy and Pinder lifted sacrifice flies. Tommy La Stella, Mark Canha, Matt Olson and Marcus Semien also homered for the Athletics. The Astros suffered their first loss of this postseason despite longballs from Jose Altuve and Aledmys Diaz.