Yankees, Astros Take 2-0 Series Leads

UNDATED (AP) – The New York Yankees have outscored the Minnesota Twins, 18-6 in taking the first two games of their AL Division Series. The Yankees followed Friday’s 10-4 win by erupting in the third inning of an 8-2 win over the Twins. Didi Gregorius had two hits and highlighted the Yankees’ seven-run third with a grand slam. Gleyber  Torres and Brett Gardner provided RBI singles during the huge rally that chased Twins starting pitcher Randy Dobnak. Yanks starter Masahiro Tanaka struck out seven while holding Minnesota to a run and three hits over five innings. Minnesota also managed just three hits against the Yankees’ bullpen. Dobnak was reached for four runs and six hits over two-plus innings. The series shifts to Minnesota for Game 3 on Monday as the Twins try to avoid elimination. Jake Odorizzi will start for the Twins against Luis Severino. Like the Yankees, the Astros enjoy a 2-0 lead in their AL Division series after holding off the Rays, 3-1. Gerrit Cole was dominant over 7 2/3 shutout innings, scattering four hits and striking out 15. Cole’s performance comes after Justin Verlander tossed three-hit ball over seven scoreless frames to lead the Astros’ series-opening win. Alex Bregman broke a scoreless tie with a home run in the fourth off Rays starter Blake Snell, who was lifted from the game just one batter later. It remained a 1-0 game until Martin Maldonado  poked an RBI single in the seventh, one inning before Carlos Correa’s single capped the scoring for the Astros. The Rays staged their only significant rally in the ninth, scoring on an RBI grounder before Robert Osuna  before loading the bases for the second time in the inning. Will Harris followed Osuna and struck out Travis d’Arnaud before Kevin Kiermaier grounded out to end the game. Game 3 will be Monday in St. Petersburg. Zack Greinke will try to close it out for the Astros against Tampa Bay’s Charlie Morton.