ALDS: Hanley Ramirez, Masahiro Tanaka Fend Off Elimination For Red Sox, Yankees

Players of the Day for Sunday, October 8, 2017

Ramirez: 4-for-4, 3 RBI

American League

Like Dorothy in the "Wizard of Oz," the Yankees and Red Sox have to believe "there's no place like home."

Both teams faced playoff elimination Sunday, and both came through with home wins, albeit the margin of victory for the Yankees being less than optimal.

Boston got a huge effort from Hanley Ramirez, batting sixth as the DH in Boston's 10-3 romp over the Astros. Ramirez was 4-for-4 with three RBI on three singles and a double.

The Red Sox batters banged out 15 hits after Houston took a 3-0 lead in the top of the first. Doug Fister, Boston's starter, lasted only 1 1/3 innings, but the Red Sox relief staff held the Astros scoreless for the final eight innings of the one-sided affair, including converted starter, David Price, who turned in four innings of shutout ball.

The series resumes Monday at Fenway Park at 1:08 pm ET. Houston leads, two games to one.

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Tanaka: 7 Scoreless

Throughout the regular season, Yankee starter Masahiro Tanaka had his share of ups and downs, going 13-12 with a 4.14 ERA, but his post-season performance in game three of the ALDS was exactly what the Yankees needed.

New York rode Tanaka's arm to a 1-0 victory over the Indians, staving off elimination in the best-of-five series.

Tanaka out-lasted Cleveland's Carlos Carrasco, putting down seven scoreless innings on three hits and a walk, striking out seven. Carrasco lasted 5 2/3, but did not allow any runs either. Former Yankee, Andrew Miller, gave up a seventh inning solo home to Greg Bird, which turned out to be the only run of the game.

Yankee relievers finished what Tanaka started. David Robertson got one out but walked a batter in the top of the eighth, bringing on Aroldis Chapman, who endured for a five-out save.

Game four of the series, with Cleveland holding a 2-1 game advantage, is scheduled for Monday, 7:08 pm ET.

National League

There were no games in the National League on Sunday. On Monday, the Cubs host the Nationals at 4:08 pm ET, and the Diamondbacks host the Dodgers at 10:08 ET. The Cubs and Bats are tied one game apiece, while the Dodgers hold a 2-0 edge over Arizona in the best-of-five series.