The Japan Times - Yankees and pope-backed White Sox start MLB playoffs with wins

Atlanta's Austin Riley delivered a triumph with a three-run homer and San Diego thrashed the Chicago Cubs, as the MLB post-season began with best-of-three wildcard series openers.

At New York, Rice smashed a grand slam and a solo homer while right-hander Schlittler mystified the Red Sox, striking out 10 while allowing only two hits over 6 1/3 scoreless innings in a masterpiece 9-0 shutout.

"Just thrilled it left the yard to get four runs," Rice said of his grand slam.

"This is what you dream about, Yankees-Red Sox playoff game in New York."

The Yankees, missing slugger Aaron Judge due to a calf strain, saw Rice homer in the fifth, single home a run in the seventh and smash a bases-loaded homer in the eighth.

Austin Wells drove in two runs, Luis Garcia plated a run hitting into a double play and Schlittler threw a career-high 117 pitches to silence Red Sox hitters.

New York leads the American League series 1-0, with the winner facing Tampa Bay.

The White Sox, of whom the pope is a lifelong fan, beat Houston 6-3.

A social media post by the White Sox showed an inspirational letter received Tuesday from the leader of the world's 1.4 billion Catholics.

"I willingly invoke the Almighty's abundant blessings upon you and your loved ones," the pope wrote to White Sox owner Jerry Reinsdorf.

Divine intervention or not, the White Sox dominated.

Sam Antonacci put the White Sox ahead to stay by scoring on Munetaka Murakami's first-inning sacrifice fly.

Antonacci added a two-run single in the second, Colson Montgomery hit a solo homer in the fourth and Chase Meidroth's bases-loaded single in the fifth made it 5-0.

Houston's Nelson Velazquez smacked a two-run homer in the fifth and each team added a run on an error to create the final margin.

After the victory, the White Sox posted, "Abundantly blessed."

"We'll take it," White Sox manager Will Venable said. "The pope having our back and supporting us means a lot."

- National League -

In the National League, Riley's homer in the eighth inning gave the host Braves a 5-3 victory over Philadelphia.

Trailing 3-2, Atlanta won after Michael Harris singled, took second base after Ozzie Albies was hit by a pitch ahead of Riley smashing a home run to right field off Phillies relief pitcher Jhoan Duran.

"He left something over the plate and I got a good swing at it," Riley said.

"It means a lot. I've been grinding for these guys and the city all year.

"To finally come up big for them was huge. It's not over yet but a nice start for sure."

Braves pitcher Chris Sale, 37, made his longest career playoff start, striking out nine over 6 1/3 innings.

The series winner will face reigning World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.

And the Padres routed the Chicago Cubs 8-0 in San Diego.

Pitcher Michael King gave up just one hit across seven scoreless innings, striking out eight.

Fernando Tatis Jr and Manny Machado each hit homers in the first inning. Tatis scored off a Machado double in the third.

Xander Bogaerts was next to homer in the fourth. A Jackson Merrill single in the fifth sent Luis Campusano and Machado over home plate, before Ty France made it 7-0 on a passed ball.

Tatis Jr stole second base in the seventh inning then capitalized on a throwing error for San Diego's eighth.

H.Takahashi--JT