Sports Time Radio

While the National League just had Game 1 of their divisional series there’s a chance that one of the American League division series could end today. The Houston Astros are leading their series with the Oakland A’s 2 games to none and need just one more win to advance to the championship series. In the other American League series the New York Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays have each won a game.

While it’s pretty clear to see why the Yankees are playing better; they got healthy. The Astros on the other hand are a different story. The only key injury they had was to Justin Verlander and they knew that not only would he not be back for any playoff games, but he’ll be out all of next season. Is it possible that they’re embracing their roles as villains and just running with it. As you know the Astros where caught cheating and while the players where not punished their manager and their general manager where both terminated and then suspended for a full season by Major League Baseball. Could this be the motivating factor that driving the Astros?

After cruising to a 10-5 win in Game 1; Game 2 started off the same way for the Astros. Kris Davis hit a solo home run in the bottom pf the 2^nd inning to give the A’s a 1-0 lead. That lead didn’t last long as George Springer hit a solo shot in the Top of the 3^rd inning to make it a 1-1 game. The Astros then picked up 4 runs over the next two innings capped off by another Springer home run in the Top of the 5^th  while the Oakland A’s where only able to add a run on a Chad Pinder home run. There was no scoring after that top of the 5^th as both teams pitching controlled the rest of the game.

Framber Valdez threw 7 strong innings for the Astros. He gave up those two solo home runs which was part of the 5 hits he gave up. He walked 1 while striking out 4. Enoli Paredes and Ryan Pressly each pitched an inning with Pressly picking up the save in the Astros win.

Sean Manaea who didn’t get a start in the wild card series against the Chicago White Sox made the start for the A’s in Game 2. Manaea pitched 4 1/3^rd innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while striking out 2 and walking 1. Yumeiro Petit gave up the last run to the Astros. Mike Minor, Joakim Soria and Lou Trivino didn’t give up a hit or a run to the Astros over the final 4 innings of the game.

It was originally reported that Zack Greinke would make the Game 3 start for the Astros, but it appears as though Jose Urquidy will take the mound to try and close out the series for Houston. Oakland is going with Jesus Luzardo as their Game 3 starter, but with their elimination just one loss away I’m sure just about everyone is available to pitch for the A’s today.  

As for the Yankees and the Rays. In Game 1 the Yankees got to Blake Snell for 4 runs over his 5 innings of work and while the Rays where ale to cut the lead to 4-3 heading into the 9^th inning Giancarlo Stanton put the game away from New York with a grand slam off of Rays reliever John Curtiss. Stanton’s grand slam followed and bases loaded single by Aaron Hicks that made the score 5-3 Yankees. Stanton’s grand slam put the game away giving the Yankees a 9-3 Game 1 win.

In Game 2 last night it was the Rays that jumped out to an early lead. Randy Arozarena hit a solo home run to give the Rays a quick 1-0 lead, but Stanton evened things up for the Yankees with a solo shot of his own to make it a 1-1 game. A 2^nd inning homer by Mike Zunino and a 3^rd inning home run by Manuel Margot put the Rays up 5-1, but it was Stanton again who came through for the Yankees this time with a three run home run in the 4^th inning to make it a 5-4 game. Tampa Bay picked up a run in the 5^th inning and then Austin Meadows capped the Rays scoring with their fourth home run of the night to give Tampa bay a 7-4 lead. New York did add a run in the top of the 9^th, but it wasn’t enough as the Rays win Game 2 7-5 to even the series at one game apiece.

Rookie Devi Garcia made the start for the Yankees, but last just 1 inning. Garcia threw just 27 pitches giving up 1 run on 1 hit before being removed. J.A. Happ followed Garcia to the mound. Happ pitched 2 2/3rds innings giving up 4 runs on 5 hits while walking 3 and striking out 2. Adam Ottavino pitched 2/3rds of an inning after Happ and gave up a run. Jonathan Loaisiga gave the Yankees an 1 1/3^rd giving up 1 run. He was followed by Jonathan Holder and then Nick Nelson who each worked clean innings.

Tyler Glasnow got the start for the Rays. He gave them 5 innings allowing 4 runs on 3 hits while walking 3 and striking out 10. Glasnow was followed by Diego Castillo who pitched an inning without giving up a run. Nick Anderson was next out of the Rays bullpen and he threw 2 scoreless innings. Peter Fairbanks pitched the 9^th inning for Tampa Bay and while he did give up a run on 1 hit he was able to close out the game and pick up a save for the Rays.

Game 3 is today. Charlie Morton will make the start for the Rays while the Yankees are going with Masahiro Tanaka as both teams try to take a one game lead in the series.

As for the National League series the Atlanta Braves beat the Miami Marlins 9-5 to not only take Game 1 of that series, but also handing the Marlins their first ever playoff loss. In the other National League series it was the Los Angeles Dodgers who took Game 1 there as they beat the San Diego Padres 5-1. Game 2 in each of those series will be played today. The Braves will start rookie Ian Anderson while the Marlins will start Pablo Lopez. The Dodgers will go with Clayton Kershaw in Game 2 while the Padres have yet to announce their starting pitcher for today’s game.

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