A night removed from a five-run meltdown from closer Jim Johnson, the Orioles got a stellar start from Wei-Yin Chen and just enough offense to edge the Yankees, 3-2, Monday night and even the ALDS.

It wasn’t a perfect beginning to the postseason. The Nationals, however, are very comfortable with what has transpired. They headed back to the nation’s capital on Monday night, having split the first two games of the franchise’s second postseason appearance.

While home-field advantage — the reward for winning more regular-season games (98) than any other Major League team — is a plus for the Nationals, the Cardinals are not without encouraging prospects.

Just in case anyone had forgotten that Carlos Beltran has been one of the best postseason performers of his generation, the 35-year-old outfielder delivered two pointed reminders in the Cardinals’ 12-4 win over the Nationals on Monday at Busch Stadium.

So there were Cardinals first baseman Allen Craig and catcher Yadier Molina in the clubhouse after Monday’s big 12-4 win. They were being asked about the team’s breakout performance. This came one day after they stood on the same patch of real estate and answered questions about how the team wasn’t scoring and how they personally hadn’t delivered.

Jon Jay’s game, while punctuated by a fine catch at the wall, was not entirely defined by it. The leadoff hitter reached base three times, drove in three runs and scored one. Two of his RBIs came with two out.

The Nationals and Cardinals head to Washington all even, as the Redbirds again ambushed starter Jordan Zimmermann en route to a 12-4 victory in front of 45,840 at Busch Stadium on Monday.

As expected, the A’s will turn to lefty Brett Anderson to halt the Tigers in Game 3 of the American League Division Series on Tuesday and save his team from elimination.

The organizational upheaval that led to the departure of manager Jim Tracy could turn out to be a valuable lesson for the Rockies’ young overall roster, shortstop Troy Tulowitzki said on Monday.

The Rangers had a five-game lead with nine to play. Ten games later, their season was over.

Terry Francona spent a year being really good at television, but now he is back where he wants to be, in the clubhouse and the dugout. Is he bound to lead the Indians to their first World Series championship since 1948? Maybe, but that is not why it took him less time than it took him to go through security at Hopkins Airport to accept the job.

Jaime Garcia, who spent time on the disabled list with an “impingement” in his left shoulder, experienced discomfort again after two innings of Monday’s Game 2 and had been sent for an MRI.

The Indians’ first goal this offseason was to find a way to bring a winning culture back to its ballpark as soon as possible. Cleveland took a big step in that direction by naming Terry Francona the club’s new manager.

For a time Monday, the Nationals looked as if they had a real chance to rally back in the seventh inning Monday. But then Bryce Harper’s aggressive style cost the Nats some momentum.

Since the beginning of August, Jordan Zimmermann has not resembled the dominant pitcher he was earlier this season. That trend continued in Game 2.

As well as Jordan Zimmermann has pitched for the Nationals throughout his young career, the Cardinals have made a habit of roughing him up.

The Reds have history on their side entering Game 3 of the National League Division Series, as if they needed anything else on their side after the way they won the first two games in San Francisco.