MLB Playoffs: Yanks Sweep Twins As Nationals, Cardinals Force Game 5s

In a quartet of Division Series games in the MLB playoffs on Monday, three out of four teams were able to stave off elimination and live to play another day.

The Twins, losers of 16th straight playoff games, were not one of them as they were swept out of the postseason by the New York Yankees following a 5-1 loss in Minnesota.

The Bombers bring out the brooms. #CLINCHED pic.twitter.com/H4pUO9vszr

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2019

For the Twins, their 2019 season ended the same way as their 2003, 2004, 2009, 2010 and 2017 campaigns: losing to the Yankees in the postseason.

In the other ALDS series, the Rays were able to avoid being swept out of the playoffs by the Houston Astros behind a dominant effort from Tampa Bay starter Charlie Morton.

Morton, who won the World Series with Houston two seasons ago, allowed one run on three hits while striking out nine over five innings as Tampa Bay defeated Houston 10-3 Monday to cut their series deficit to 2-1. Game 4 is Tuesday.

A dominant start from Charlie Morton has @RaysBaseball in position to take Game 3!

Go to https://t.co/tmrbR6Aud6 to catch the rest of today's game! 👀📺 pic.twitter.com/FUtVTjYr47

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) October 7, 2019

In the National League, the Washington Nationals were able to tie their series and force a Game 5 against the Dodgers with a 6-1 victory over league-best Los Angeles.

The Nationals, who were a wild-card team, were able to advance thanks to season-saving efforts from Max Scherzer, who pitched seven strong innings, and Ryan Zimmerman, who clubbed a three-run homer to help break the game open.

The Franchise. #NLDS pic.twitter.com/I7hMvTl0Bz

— MLB (@MLB) October 8, 2019

In the other NLDS series, the Cardinals were able to force a Game 5 behind the heroics of Yadier Molina, who rallied St. Louis with a game-tying single in the eighth inning and a sacrifice fly to end it in the 10th and give his team a 5-4 victory over the Atlanta Braves.