Springer hits 2 HRs, Astros beat A’s 5-2 for 2-0 ALDS lead

LOS ANGELES — Back-to-back home runs off back-to-back pitches. The Houston Astros can’t miss these days.

George Springer hit two homers and Houston kept making more noise in the playoffs, beating the Oakland Athletics 5-2 on Tuesday to take a 2-0 lead in their AL Division Series.

Martín Maldonado also went deep for Houston, which needs one win to reach its fourth straight AL Championship Series. Game 3 in the best-of-five series is Wednesday, when Houston is the home team in the neutral site matchup.

“With every victory, the energy and the confidence grows,” first-year Houston manager Dusty Baker said. “We’re expecting good things to happen.”

Springer put Houston ahead to stay with a two-run, two-out drive in the third on a second straight 90-degree day at Dodger Stadium.

“You don’t know if you’re ever going to get back here, so the times you’re here you might as well try and have fun,” Springer said.

Houston went back-to-back in the fifth, extending the lead to 5-2.

Maldonado’s solo shot chased loser Sean Manaea in his first appearance this post-season. Yusmeiro Petit came in, and Springer connected for his second homer of the game. Maldonado yelled and raised his right arm in celebration from his seat in the dugout.

“Just a couple bad pitches,” Manaea said. “I know we are going to figure this thing out and turn it around.”

Springer’s 17 post-season homers tied Nelson Cruz and Jim Thome for most through a player’s first 54 career post-season games. Five of Springer’s post-season homers have come at Dodger Stadium, where the Astros beat the Dodgers in Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.

“I don’t really pay attention to that stuff,” Springer said. “I’d much rather us win.”

Houston improved to 7-3 in Dodger Stadium since that World Series. Current A’s pitcher Mike Fiers last year told of his old team’s sign-stealing scandal used in 2017, a revelation that rocked baseball.

The scandal led to season-long suspensions of Houston general manager Jeff Luhnow and manager AJ Hinch, who both were fired. Boston manager Alex Cora and Mets manager Carlos Beltrán also lost their jobs as fallout their roles with the ’17 Astros, and Houston still draws ire of other players and fans.

“This is a team that believes in one another and sticks together and really tries to enjoy the day,” Springer said.

Houston turned three double plays, including one to end the game. Second baseman José Altuve got the first two going and had a hand in all three.

“What kept us in the game was our defence,” Baker said. “Jose made some great plays.”

Hot, sunny and dry conditions again created an ideal environment for the long ball. The teams combined for five homers, raising the series total to 11.

Winner Framber Valdéz allowed two runs and five hits in seven innings, struck out four and walked one. The 26-year-old left-hander, making his first post-season start, retired his final 10 batters.

“His ball is moving all over the place. His breaking ball was good,” A’s manager Bob Melvin said. “Our bats were better early. He got more confidence as the game went along. Last three times out he has pitched with a lot of confidence.”

Valdez dazzled in his relief appearance against Minnesota in the AL wild card series opener, tossing five scoreless innings and scattering two hits to go with five strikeouts.

Enoli Paredes retired the side in the eighth. Ryan Pressly worked around Marcus Semien’s leadoff single in the ninth, Oakland’s only hit past the fourth inning, to finish a six-hitter for his second save of the post-season.

Oakland didn’t have an at-bat with a runner in scoring position. The A’s are hitting 14 for 62 (.226) in the series.

“We have nothing to lose from here,” A’s infielder Chad Pinder said.

Oakland got on board with Khris Davis’ second-inning home run, his third of this post-season that put the A’s ahead.

After Springer’s first homer, the Astros extended their lead to 3-1 on Carlos Correa’s RBI groundout in the fourth that scored Michael Brantley, who doubled leading off.

Pinder led off the bottom half with a 453-foot homer to right-centre, the longest home run at Dodger Stadium this season.

For the second straight game, Oakland’s starting pitching failed to go deep. Manaea gave up four runs and five hits in 4 2/3 innings. Chris Bassitt didn’t get out of the fourth in Game 1, allowing three runs and nine hits.

“We just have to win tomorrow and worry about the next day after that,” Melvin said. “Anything further than that is a distraction.”

GREINKE HURT

Baker said right-hander Zack Greinke is dealing with arm soreness. He hasn’t pitched in the series and Baker said the team is awaiting test results. “It’s pretty evident the last three, four starts that he wasn’t himself,” the manager said.

OFF DAY

Correa was 0 for 3 with a RBI and a strikeout after homering twice in Game 1 and becoming the first shortstop in major league history with two multi-homer games in post-season play.

UP NEXT

Astros: RHP Jose Urquidy goes in Game 3. He started Game 2 of the AL wild card against Minnesota, allowing one run and two hits in 4 1/3 innings. He struck out three and walked two.

Athletics: LHP Jesús Luzardo starts for Oakland. He started and lost the wild card opener against the Chicago White Sox, giving up three runs and six hits in 3 1/3 innings with five strikeouts and no walks.

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Beth Harris, The Associated Press