MLB Playoffs: Astros, Rays, ChiSox, Yankees Open With Game-One Wins

 The expanded Major League Baseball Playoffs opened on Tuesday with the opening game of each of the American League's opening-round series.

All these series are best-of-three with the higher-seeded clubs hosting all games.

Game #1:

At Minneapolis:

Jose Altuve drew in a walk that forced in the go-ahead run in the ninth inning as the Houston Astros handed the Minnesota Twins their MLB record 17th straight post-season defeat with a 4-1 game-one victory.

Game #2:

At Oakland, California:

Lucas Giolito pitched six perfect innings in his postseason debut while Yasmani Grandal, Jose Abreu, and Adam Engel each smacked a home run as the Chicago White Sox upended the Oakland Athletics 4-1 in their series opener.

Game #3:

At St. Petersburg, Florida:

Blake Snell struck out nine batters in 5 and 2/3 innings while Manuel Margot delivered a two-run homer as the Tampa Bay Rays defeated the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 3-1 in game one.

Game #4:

At Cleveland:

Aaron Judge hit two-run home on Shane Bieber's fourth pitch of the game while Giancarlo Stanton, Gleyber Torres, and Brett Gardner all followed with round-trippers of their own as the New York Yankees ambushed the home-standing Cleveland Indians 12-3 in their series-opening contest.