The Houston Astros’ Josh Reddick (22), George Springer (4) and Roberto Osuna celebrate after their 7-2 win over the Cleveland Indians in Game 1 of their AL Division Series on Friday in Houston.HOUSTON – It’s October, and Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman and George Springer are hitting home runs once again while helping the Houston Astros to a postseason win.
A year after launching a World Series-record 15 homers while winning the franchise’s first championship, the Astros picked up right where they left off, hitting four Friday afternoon to power past the Cleveland Indians 7-2 in Game 1 of their American League Division Series.
Martin Maldonado also connected for the Astros, who didn’t waste any time displaying the same power that carried them to last year’s title.
Much was made about the pitching prowess these teams possess in the days leading up to this game, but it was a bunch of longballs that gave the Astros the early advantage in the best-of-five series.
“As much as I’ve heard different opinions about our offense, it’s pretty long, it’s pretty good, it’s pretty potent,” Houston manager A.J. Hinch said. “Case in point today.”
Houston’s pop backed up a solid start by Justin Verlander, who bested Corey Kluber in a matchup of aces in the first postseason meeting between these teams.
Verlander took a no-hitter into the sixth inning and earned the 12th playoff win of his MLB career. The 2011 AL MVP and Cy Young Award winner allowed two hits and two runs in 5 1/3 innings, and the Indians finished with only three hits, all singles.
Kluber, who earned Cy Young Awards in 2014 and 2017 and won a career-best 20 games this season, was tagged for three home runs in 4 2/3 innings. It was a repeat performance from last October’s ALDS, when he made two starts against the New York Yankees and left with a 12.79 ERA.
Game 2 is Saturday in Houston. Gerrit Cole will start for the Astros against Carlos Carrasco.
The Astros hit 27 homers in the 2017 postseason. Springer hit five in the World Series and set a record by connecting in four straight games on his way to winning the MVP award.
Bregman, coming off a breakout year, got Houston’s first hit with his drive to the Crawford Boxes in left field to start a two-run fourth inning.
“The only thing I can say about him is without him we wouldn’t be here,” Altuve said.
The Astros, who won 103 games in the regular season, were still up 2-0 when Springer led off the fifth with a full-count homer to left. That made him just the third player in MLB history to homer in five straight postseason games.
“I’m happy that I was able to help us win in all of those games and be a spark plug,” Springer said.
Two pitches later, Altuve, last year’s AL MVP, connected for the eighth postseason homer of his MLB career when he also sent one to left field. He began last year’s playoffs with three home runs in the ALDS opener against Boston.
Kluber watched stone-faced as Altuve headed for first and shook his head slightly as he rounded the bases and the crowd roared, with scattered chants of “MVP!”
Kluber followed his splendid regular season with another playoff dud. A year after giving up four homers in two starts against the Yankees, the longball again proved to be a problem for him. He left with two outs in the fifth inning after allowing six hits and four runs while walking three.
“Last year has nothing to do with today,” Cleveland manager Terry Francona said. “They’re a good team. He made a couple mistakes. They made him pay for it.”
Verlander was masterful through the first five innings, with Cleveland’s only baserunner in that span coming on a walk to Jose Ramirez with two outs in the first. The Houston right-hander set down 13 in a row after that, fanning seven, including striking out the side in the third.
Yan Gomes broke up the no-hitter with his single to shallow right field to start the sixth, and Francisco Lindor singled with one out in the inning. When Verlander walked Michael Brantley to load the bases after that, Hinch had seen enough and replaced him with Ryan Pressly.
The Indians cut the lead to 4-1 on a wild pitch by Pressly, who came to Houston in a July trade with the Minnesota Twins, then got within two when Lindor scored on a groundout by Ramirez.
Maldonado, making his MLB playoff debut, connected off Cody Allen for a two-out homer in the seventh. Bregman made it 6-2 with an RBI single later in the inning.
Houston reliever Hector Rondon, who Hinch said was “very upset” about not making the ALDS roster, did not come onto the field when he was introduced with the team’s reserves before the game. He also was not on the field during the national anthem, but he did join the team in the dugout for the game.
Rondon, signed by the Astros to a two-year deal in the offseason, was left off the roster in favor of hard-throwing rookie Josh James because of his ability to throw multiple innings.
Hinch said Rondon could be used in the AL Championship Series if the Astros advance. Rondon was 2-5 with 15 saves and a 3.20 ERA in 63 games.
In a season in which using multiple relievers instead of defined starters has become popular for certain games, Verlander believes true starters remain very important to the game.
“I think you need it,” he said. “I think the more relievers get used every single day, it has an effect I don’t have the answers. But I do believe in innings. I believe in protecting the bullpen. And I believe in a starting pitcher.”