MLB Playoffs Top Plays: Dodgers force Game 5, while Astros and Braves advance
It was put up or shut up time for three teams in three separate MLB division series on Tuesday.
The Los Angeles Dodgers certainly did their part, beating their rival San Francisco Giants 7-2 to push the NLDS to a Game 5.
Earlier in the day, the Houston Astros beat up the Chicago White Sox 10-1 to take the best-of-five ALDS 3-1. In doing so, the Astros became the third team ever to make five straight LCS appearances and will take on the Boston Red Sox.
The Atlanta Braves also advanced on Tuesday, riding an eighth-inning home run from Freddie Freeman to beat the Milwaukee Brewers 5-4 and move on to their second consecutive NLCS.
Here are the top plays from Tuesday:
Los Angeles Dodgers 7, San Francisco Giants 2 (series tied 2-2)
Striking first
The Dodgers were the first team to score in Game 4 thanks to a Trea Turner RBI-double that drove in Corey Seager in the bottom of the first inning.
Saved by Wade
With two outs and the bases loaded in the bottom of the third inning, the Dodgers were well-positioned to add at least one more run to their total with Chris Taylor up to bat.
Taylor made contact with a pitch that appeared to be a guaranteed hit, but Giants' right fielder LaMonte Wade Jr made a spectacular catch to keep his team within striking distance.
Get it back
The Giants might have escaped the third inning without giving up runs, but the Dodgers made sure to get them back in the fourth.
Mookie Betts delivered a two-run homer in the bottom of the fourth to push the Dodgers' lead to 4-0.
Getting one
The Giants finally were able to get one run on the board in the top of the fifth inning, though they left two runners stranded as the inning ended.
Hollywood star
The name Will Smith has been synonymous with Hollywood for quite some time now, just not with baseball.
But Dodger's catcher Will Smith has continued to make a name for himself in October, this time with a two-run home run in the bottom of the eighth to add a little more breathing room down the home stretch.
That would prove to be the knockout blow for the Dodgers, with them winning 7-2 and forcing a decisive Game 5 in San Francisco on Thursday night.
Atlanta Braves 5, Milwaukee Brewers 4 (Atlanta wins series 3-1)
Escape route
The Brewers and Braves were stingy with runs early, as Charlie Morton wriggled out of an early jam to keep the visitors off the board and send the fans in Atlanta to their feet.
Early damage
In the top of the fourth inning, the Brewers drew first blood, taking a 2-0 lead on back-to-back RBIs from Omar Narváez and Lorenzo Cain.
Responding
The Braves took the Brewers' first punch and responded in the bottom of the fourth inning.
With the bases loaded and two outs, Eddie Rosario stepped in as a pinch-hitter to deliver a two-run RBI single to tie the game.
Counter-punching
The Brewers and Braves exchanged blows in the fourth inning, and in the fifth, the Brewers threw another counter to regain the lead. This time, the response came from the bat of Rowdy Tellez, who hit a two-run home run to give the Brewers a 4-2 lead.
But sure enough, the Braves responded to tie the score in the bottom of the fifth thanks to back-to-back RBIs from Joc Pederson and Travis d'Arnaud.
Fabulous Freddie
The teams remained scoreless from there until the eighth inning when Braves' first baseman Freddie Freeman smashed a solo homer to give the Braves a 5-4 lead.
That ultimately was the game-winner as the Braves advanced to their second consecutive NLCS.
Houston Astros 10, Chicago White Sox 1 (Houston wins series 3-1)
Chucking gas
White Sox starter Carlos Rodón gave up a double right off the bat (pun intended) to Jose Altuve, but settled in immediately after. He worked a groundout and back-to-back strikeouts to close the top of the first without any damage, touching 99 mph on the gun on both of his punchouts.
According to Jake Mintz and Jordan Schusterman, Tuesday marked the first time Rondón hit 99 mph since Aug. 7.
Sheets to center
The South Siders struck first in the game, getting on the board with a solo shot from Gavin Sheets against Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr..
To make matters worst for the Astros, center fielder Jake Meyers had to exit with an injury after attempting to make the grab high above the wall.
Top shelf
The Astros came back with a vengeance in the top of the third. After jacking the bases with a pair of walks and a HBP, Carlos Correa shot this double into left field for two runs.
Gappers
Already up 3-1 in the fourth inning, Houston got another man on base before Alex Bregman worked a 3-0 count and made Garrett Crochet pay on a fastball up the middle, which was good for two more RBIs.
Testy times
With the Astros sporting a 7-1 lead in the eighth inning, reliever Kendall Graveman plunked José Abreu with some inside heat, much to the displeasure of ChiSox manager Tony La Russa.
La Russa was allowed to air his grievances, but the umpire opted to warn the teams and didn't issue any ejections. And, for what it's worth, the White Sox had doinked Altuve earlier in the game in the third inning.
No doubt about it
Altuve put the cherry on top of the series for the Astros, smacking a three-run homer with two outs in the top of the ninth off of Liam Hendriks, giving Houston a 10-1 lead.
That poke from the 2017 MVP tied him for fourth-most on the all-time postseason HR list with George Springer and Albert Pujols. From there, the Astros sealed the deal in the bottom of the ninth to move on to the ALCS.
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