Baseball-Highlights of MLB playoff games on Thursday

Astros 8, Red Sox 2

Jose Altuve recorded the 10th three-home run game in postseason history as the Houston Astros jumped on Cy Young Award contender Chris Sale for an 8-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Game 1 of their American League Division Series.

Altuve (3-for-4, three RBIs) became the first player in franchise history to homer three times in a postseason game, doing so twice off Sale (0-1).

The All-Star second baseman followed a solo shot from Alex Bregman with a homer in the first inning before adding a two-out shot off Sale in the fifth and a leadoff blast against reliever Austin Maddox in the seventh.

After clubbing his first two homers to left-center field, Altuve pushed the lead to six runs with his blast to left in the seventh. Houston also got two-run base hits from Marwin Gonzalez and Brian McCann.

Justin Verlander (1-0) allowed two runs on six hits and two walks with three strikeouts in six innings for his eighth postseason victory. Sale (0-1) gave up seven runs and nine hits in five innings, walking one and striking out six.

Indians 4, Yankees 0

Trevor Bauer pitched 6-2/3 scoreless innings and combined with two relievers on a three-hitter, and Jay Bruce had a home run and three RBIs as Cleveland beat New York in Game 1 of their AL Division Series.

Bauer (1-0) did not give up a hit until Aaron Hicks doubled with one out in the sixth inning. The only other hit against Bauer was a single by Starlin Castro with two outs in the seventh.

Bauer, who was a surprise choice by Indians manager Terry Francona to start Game 1 ahead of ace Corey Kluber, threw 98 pitches, striking out eight with one walk.

The Yankees' Aaron Judge, who led the American League with 52 home runs, was 0-for-4 with four strikeouts. Sonny Gray (0-1) pitched 3-1/3 innings, giving up three runs and three hits with two strikeouts and four walks.