MLB Playoffs: Dodgers sweep, Astros advance while the Cubs win and Yankees extend their series

iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — On a day that featured four playoff games, fans saw two teams advance to the Championship League Series (ALCS), one team take control of the National League Division Series (NLDS), and another swing momentum in their favor as they head for a winner-take-all Game 5.

The Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Monday afternoon, winning their American League Division Series (ALDS) matchup three games to one. On a long, rainy day at Boston’s Fenway Park, in a game that lasted over four hours, Houston was just three outs away from securing their first ALDS appearance since 2005.

Up 5-3 to start the ninth inning, infielder Rafael Devers hit an inside-the-park home run to lead off the inning, cutting the Astros’ lead to one run. Closer Ken Giles then got through the inning, retiring second baseman Dustin Pedroia to secure the final out and clinch the series.

In New York, the Yankees won their Game 4 matchup with the Cleveland Indians 7-3 behind seven strong innings from starter Luis Severino and a home run from catcher Gary Sanchez.

The best-of-five series is currently tied 2-2. The Yankees had trailed 2-0 and were facing a sweep, but a home run from Greg Bird in Game 3 pushed them to Game 4, which the Yankees took handily.

The Indians and Yankees will play a winner-take-all Game 5 on Wednesday night. Two of the top pitchers in the series, Cleveland’s Corey Kluber and the Yankees’ CC Sabathia, will face off.

The Los Angeles Dodgers rolled over their division rivals in the National League Division Series (NLDS), completing the three-game sweep over the Arizona Diamondbacks.

Dodgers starter Yu Darvish, pitching on the road at Arizona’s Chase Field, allowed just two hits in five-plus innings to send Los Angeles back to the NLCS for the second straight year.

Meanwhile, the Chicago Cubs are just one win away from forcing a 2016 NLCS rematch with the Dodgers after taking their Game 3 matchup with the Washington Nationals 2-1 Monday night.

Despite four errors and a base running mistake, Cubs starter Jose Quintana went head-to-head with Nationals’ ace Max Scherzer, and an eighth inning RBI bloop single from Anthony Rizzo put the Cubs ahead and made the difference in the game.

Chicago will look to win the series on their home field Tuesday at 5:30pm ET.

The Yankees and Indians will face off in the series finale in Cleveland on Wednesday at 8:00pm ET.

The ALCS begins on October 13. The NLCS starts a day later on October 14.

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