Yankees, Astros Cruise To Series-Opening Wins

October 6, 2020 3:48 am

UNDATED (AP) – Both the New York Yankees and Houston Astros are 3-0 this postseason after taking Game 1 of their respective AL Division Series.  The Yankees banged out four home runs in a 9-3 smashing of the Rays. Tampa Bay led 3-2 until Kyle Higashioka and Aaron Judge belted solo shots off Tampa Bay starter and loser Blake Snell in the fifth inning.  The Yanks put it out of reach with a five-run ninth capped by Giancarlo Stanton’s grand slam.  Clint Frazier also hit a solo blast and Aaron Hicks went 3-for-4 with two RBIs for New York. Gerrit Cole struck out eight and allowed three runs over six innings, including homers by Randy Arozarena and Ji-Man Choi. In Los Angeles, Carlos Correa homered twice and had four RBIs in the Astros’ 10-5 rout of the Athletics. The A’s led 5-3 in the sixth until George Springer laced an RBI double and scored on Jose Altuve’s two-run single.  Houston plated four in the sixth following an error by shortstop Marcus Semien with two out and nobody on. Alex Bregman also homered for the Astros, who entered the postseason after compiling a losing record. Khris Davis, Sean Murphy and Matt Olson homered for the Athletics, who will try to even the series on Tuesday.