Dodgers, Brewers duel in NL series

American League: AsTros advance

NEW YORK – Defending champion Houston and the Los Angeles Dodgers advanced in the Major League Baseball playoffs with lopsided road triumphs Monday while the Boston Red Sox routed the New York Yankees.

George Springer smashed two solo home runs in Houston’s 11-3 romp over the Cleveland Indians, while Manny Machado belted a three-run homer and a run-scoring double to power the Dodgers over the Atlanta Braves, 6-2.

The Dodgers advance to the NL Championship Series against the Milwaukee Brewers, who swept the Colorado Rockies in their  best-of-seven finals.

And Boston’s Brock Holt hit for the first playoff game cycle – a single, double, triple and homer – and drove in five runs as the Red Sox hammered out 18 hits in a 16-1 humbling of the host Yankees.

“It was a fun night,” Holt said. “Offensively, we were clicking on all cylinders. Tonight is a night I will remember for a long time.”

Houston completed a sweep of Cleveland in the best-of-five American League division series, holding the Tribe to six runs on 13 hits over three games.

“It’s awesome, a great day for us as a team,” Springer said. “I’m happy to be heading home.”

The Astros will face either the Red Sox or Yankees in the best-of-seven American League Championship Series with the winner advancing to the World Series.

Andrew Benintendi smacked a three-run double to pace a seven-run fourth inning for the Red Sox, who led New York 2-1 and could advance by winning Tuesday.

In Atlanta, the Dodgers took the lead in the first inning on Machado’s run-scoring double.

The Braves answered in the fourth on a two-run single to left field by pinch-hitter Kurt Suzuki.

But Los Angeles reclaimed the lead at 3-2 in the sixth when pinch-hitter David Freese, the 2011 World Series Most Valuable Player with the champion St. Louis Cardinals, smacked a two-run single to centerfield.