HOUSTON — Almost out of time and out of the playoffs, the Kansas City Royals realized they needed more than a big home run.

They needed a lot of hits — a maybe a little help, too.

The defending AL champions saved their season Monday. They took advantage when Astros shortstop Carlos Correa couldn’t handle a deflected grounder that might have been a double-play ball, rallying for five runs in the eighth inning to beat Houston 9-6, forcing their playoff series to a decisive Game 5.

“We always feel that we’re still in games, and we still have a chance,” first baseman Eric Hosmer said. “That’s the mentality for this whole entire team. It’s never quit, and the character we showed today. That’s what a championship ballclub does.”

Correa homered twice, doubled, singled and drove in four runs in Game 4 of the AL Division Series. Houston took a 6-2 lead into the eighth, but a tough error charged to the 21-year-old rookie keyed the Royals’ comeback to even the matchup at two games apiece.

“I missed it. That’s what happened,” Correa said. “I wish I was perfect. I wish I could do everything perfect, but I’m not. I’m human.”

Game 5 will be back in Kansas City on Wednesday night. Johnny Cueto is set to start for the Royals against Collin McHugh.

Blue Jays 8, Rangers 4

ARLINGTON, Texas — Sure, R.A. Dickey was disappointed when he saw Blue Jays manager John Gibbons walking toward the mound.

The 40-year-old knuckleballer had a six-run lead and was one out shy of qualifying for a win in his first postseason start.

Dickey also knew he was handing the ball off to a fellow Cy Young winner, and Toronto went on to beat the Texas Rangers 8-4 on Monday to force a deciding Game 5 at home in the AL Division Series.

Toronto led 3-0 even before Dickey threw his first pitch, with Josh Donaldson and Chris Colabello homering in the first inning.

“That’s great. If you could script it, obviously, that’s what you’d want,” said Donaldson, who has reached safely in five of his last nine appearances, including two homers in the series.

The Blue Jays made it three homers in the first eight batters against Derek Holland when Kevin Pillar connected in the second for a 4-0 lead. Pillar’s drive was caught by Price, who was playing catch in the bullpen with Marcus Stroman.

Cubs 8, Cardinals 6

CHICAGO — The young sluggers of the Chicago Cubs are making themselves at home in the playoffs.

On a rare off night for Jake Arrieta, the Windy City kids bashed their way to the brink of the NL Championship Series — and a spot in the record book.

Jorge Soler, Kris Bryant and Kyle Schwarber connected as the Cubs set a postseason mark with six home runs and beat the St. Louis Cardinals 8-6 on Monday for a 2-1 lead in the NL Division Series. Arrieta struck out nine before departing in the sixth inning, and the bullpen finished the job in the first playoff game at Wrigley Field in seven years.

Starlin Castro, Anthony Rizzo and Dexter Fowler also went deep for Chicago, which held a share of the previous postseason record with five homers in Game 1 of the 1984 NLCS against San Diego.

Mets 13, Dodgers 7

NEW YORK — With big hits rather than beanballs, the New York Mets wiped out the Los Angeles Dodgers and took control of their testy Division Series.

Curtis Granderson drove in five runs with two doubles off the wall, Travis d’Arnaud and Yoenis Cespedes homered, and New York’s dangerous bats busted loose for a 13-7 victory Monday night that gave the Mets a 2-1 advantage in the best-of-five NL playoff.

Before a bloodthirsty crowd of 44,276 in the first postseason game at Citi Field, the Mets broke their postseason scoring record as public enemy No. 1 Chase Utley watched from the Los Angeles bench. New York quickly erased an early three-run deficit and made a winner of a mediocre Matt Harvey in his playoff debut.

In the end, Utley never got in the game and the Mets saved all their hard hits for when they were at the plate.

Los Angeles lefty Brett Anderson, who went back and forth with Mets fans on Twitter over Utley’s suspension Sunday night, took the loss. He was tagged for six runs and seven hits in three ineffective innings.