Red Sox strike back; Braves take opener

LOS ANGELES  – J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers delivered a historic brace of grand slams Saturday to propel the Boston Red Sox to a 9-5 victory over the Houston Astros, evening their American League Championship Series at one game apiece.

Designated hitter Martinez came to the plate with two outs and the bases loaded in the first inning and launched a 1-0 fastball from Astros starting pitcher Luis Garcia 363 feet into the right-field stands to give the Red Sox a fast 4-0 lead in Houston.

Meanwhile, Atlanta third baseman Austin Riley was the hero in the Braves’ 3-2 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers to open the National League Championship Series.

Riley cracked a walk-off single that scored second baseman Ozzie Albies from second base to break a 2-2 tie that had stood since the fourth inning and give the Braves the upper hand.