After the League Championship Series opened on Sunday night with Game 1 between the Houston Astros and Tampa Bay Rays, the National League contenders took the field in Arlington, Texas to begin the National League Championship Series (NLCS). Game 2 of the American League Championship Series (ALCS) proceeded in San Diego, California for the start of Monday’s slate.
W: Charlie Morton; L: Lance McCullers Jr.; S: Nick Anderson
Best of seven, Tampa leads 2-0
McCullers went deep into the game (7.0 IP) but allowed a three-run bomb by Manuel Margot in the 1st inning. His former teammate Morton only lasted five innings, but allowed no runs on five hits with one walk and five strikeouts.
Anderson loaded the bases in the 9th inning, but Brandon Lowe turned a double play on a ground ball by George Springer. After Anderson loaded the bases once again with walks to José Altuve and Michael Brantley, Alex Bregman lined out to Kevin Kiermaier, ending the game.
W: Will Smith; L: Blake Treinen
Best of seven, Atlanta leads 1-0
Atlanta jumped out to an early lead on Freddie Freeman‘s solo blast in the 1st inning off the unfortunately named Walker Buehler. After Kiké Hernández tied the game with his own solo homer in the 5th inning, the game remained deadlocked at 1-1 until the top of the 9th inning. Austin Riley gave the Atlanta franchise a 2-1 lead with a homer off Treinen.
Marcell Ozuna‘s RBI single and Ozzie Albies‘s two-run dinger gave some much-needed insurance runs to Atlanta closer Mark Melancon, who recorded the final three outs, giving his team a one-game series lead.
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