The visiting Arizona Diamondbacks made a statement Saturday, using a six-run first inning against Los Angeles Dodgers left-hander Clayton Kershaw to pave the way for an 11-2 victory in Game 1 of the National League Division Series.
Gabriel Moreno hit a three-run home run in the first, while Corbin Carroll, Alek Thomas and Tommy Pham all went deep later in the game as the Diamondbacks got off to a dream start in an effort to advance to the NL Championship Series for the first time since 2007. Pham had four hits.
Arizona right-hander Merrill Kelly (1-0), who does not have a win in 16 regular-season starts against Los Angeles, went 6 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the postseason victory. He gave up three hits with two walks and five strikeouts.
Kershaw (0-1) gave up six runs on six hits with one walk while recording just one out before he was replaced by rookie right-hander Emmet Sheehan after facing eight batters.
Rangers 3, Orioles 2
Josh Jung homered, Evan Carter reached base three times and Texas edged host Baltimore in Game 1 of the American League Division Series.
Carter had an RBI double, two walks and a run. The 21-year-old outfielder has reached base safely in 10 of 12 plate appearances this postseason to help Texas win all three games it has played. He became the first player in major league history to record an extra-base hit, walk and run in each of his first three career postseason games.
Anthony Santander had a homer, single, walk and scored twice for Baltimore, the top seed in the AL playoffs. The Orioles were 0-for-4 with runners in scoring position.
Astros 6, Twins 4
Yordan Alvarez homered twice while Justin Verlander threw six shutout innings as host Houston beat Minnesota in Game 1 of this ALDS.
Alvarez finished 2-for-3 with three RBIs, three runs and a walk as the Astros secured a 1-0 lead in the best-of-five series.
Royce Lewis hit his third homer of the postseason for the Twins.
Phillies 3, Braves 0
Seven pitchers combined on a five-hit shutout as Philadelphia blanked host Atlanta in Game 1 of the NLDS.
Bryce Harper went 2-for-2 with a homer and two walks for the Phillies, who also beat the Braves in Game 1 of the NLDS last year. Jeff Hoffman (1-0) recorded the final out of the fourth to record the win, while Craig Kimbrel earned a save with a perfect ninth.
Atlanta starter Spencer Strider (0-1) allowed two runs (one earned) on five hits in seven innings. He walked two and struck out eight. The Braves went 0-for-5 with runners in scoring position.
--Field Level Media
