HOUSTON (AP) — George Springer and the Houston Astros picked up right where they left off last postseason, hitting four home runs to power past the Indians 7-2 in Game 1 of the AL Division Series.
Alex Bregman, Jose Altuve and Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who hit a World Series-record 15 homers last year in winning their first championship.
Justin Verlander bested Corey Kluber in a matchup of Cy Young Award-winning aces in the first postseason meeting between these teams.
Kluber insisted his loss had nothing to do with his postseason woes last season. It just looked that way.
A year after he was hit hard in a pair of postseason starts, it happened all over as the Astros tagged him for three home runs.