Astros down Twins but Braves, Orioles, Dodgers lose openers in MLB playoffs

The Houston Astros launched their latest Major League Baseball playoff campaign with a 6-4 victory over Minnesota on Saturday as the regular season's three best teams, Atlanta, Baltimore and the Los Angeles Dodgers, were beaten.The Philadelphia Phillies shocked the Braves 3-0 in Atlanta, the Texas Rangers beat the Orioles 3-2 in Baltimore and the Arizona Diamondbacks pounded the Dodgers 11-2 in Los Angeles in another brutal playoff outing for Dodgers star pitcher Clayton Kershaw.