LOS ANGELES -- Carlos Correa hit two home runs and Jose Altuve had a go-ahead two-run single in a four-run sixth inning as the Houston Astros rallied for a 10-5 victory Monday in the opening game of their American League Division Series against the Oakland Athletics at Dodger Stadium.
George Springer had four hits as the Astros recovered from a shaky start by right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. The victory came in the Astros' first playoff game at Dodger Stadium since winning Game 7 of the 2017 World Series.
In a contest that included a combined six home runs, the opener managed to pivot on an error and a soft single to left field as the Astros moved two victories away from their fourth consecutive appearance in the American League Championship Series.
Trailing 5-3 in the sixth inning with two outs, the Astros got things started with a gift. A's shortstop Marcus Semien made a fielding error on a grounder by Josh Reddick. After a Martin Maldonado single, Springer connected on an RBI double.
Altuve followed with his single in front of A's left fielder Robbie Grossman to score Maldonado and Springer for a 6-5 lead. Michael Brantley made it 7-5 on a single to center to score Altuve.
The A's were the first to take advantage of the warm and breezy conditions in Los Angeles, getting a two-run home run from Kris Davis in the second inning and a solo shot from Sean Murphy in the third for a 3-0 lead. It was the second home run for each in the playoffs.
The Astros used their own power display to get even. In the fourth inning, Alex Bregman homered and Correa hit a two-run shot two batters later to tie it 3-3.
The A's moved back on top in their half of the fourth with a solo home run by Matt Olson, while Mark Canha had a sacrifice fly for a run in the fifth as the A's led 5-3.
Following the Astros' four-run sixth inning, Correa hit his second home run of the day in the seventh, a solo shot to center for an 8-5 advantage. Houston tacked on two more runs in the ninth on a Correa single for his fourth RBI of the game and a sacrifice fly from Yuli Gurriel.
McCullers gave up five runs (four earned) on eight hits over four innings with a walk and five strikeouts. A's starter Chris Bassitt also went four innings, giving up three runs on nine hits with no walks and four strikeouts.
A's right-hander J.B. Wendelken (0-1) gave up four unearned runs in his one inning of work to take the loss. Astros left-hander Blake Taylor (1-0) pitched a scoreless fifth inning to earn the victory.
