Francisco Lindor homers in Game 2 of ALDS

HOUSTON — If past postseason games are any indication, the Indians go as Francisco Lindor goes. So it was an encouraging early sign for the Tribe when Lindor went deep off Gerrit Cole in the third inning of Game 2 of the American League Division Series on Saturday at Minute Maid Park.

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Lindor’s solo shot gave the Indians their first lead of the series, but the Tribe stalled from there, falling to the Astros, 3-1, as Cleveland dropped the first two games of the series. In the history of five-game series with the 2-2-1 format, teams that win Games 1 and 2 at home have gone on to take the series 24 of 27 times (89 percent).

Cole had left a 2-2 slider over the heart of the plate and Lindor pounced, belting the ball with a 103.2-mph exit velocity, according to Statcast™.

There was no exit velocity reading on the speed of the ball when an Astros fan fired it back on the field of play.

This was Lindor’s first postseason homer since his momentous grand slam in Game 2 of the ALDS against the Yankees last year. After the swing, he looked back at a fired-up Tribe dugout and then saluted first-base coach Sandy Alomar Jr. as he flew around the bases.

Coming into this game, Lindor had a career .263/.330/.413 slash line in the postseason, with a severe split between wins and losses. In 12 wins, he had slashed .391/.451/.652, compared to .088/.162/.088 in nine losses.

Serving as the Indians’ leadoff hitter in the regular season, Lindor became the first shortstop to have at least 35 homers, 40 doubles and 20 stolen bases.

In the bottom of the inning, Lindor tried to make a backhanded defensive stop of a chopper off the bat of George Springer and wasn’t able to make the play. But when teammates Josh Donaldson and Jose Ramirez turned a double play on a sharp grounder from Jose Altuve, Lindor let out a roar of approval.

Video: [email protected] Gm2: Donaldson, Ramirez turn smooth DP

• Ramirez trips over second but still turns DP