The Houston Astros once again defeated the Boston Red Sox at Minute Maid Park in Game 2 of the ALDS. The identical 8-2 win gives them a solid edge in the series. The next ballgame is a must-win situation for Boston.
The Ballgame
The Astros like to start games the big way. Carlos Correa homered early in the first to give the Astros an early 2-0 lead. Jackie Bradley also went to work early. The outfielder singled, bringing one run home and shrinking the lead by half thanks to some shaky pitching command by Dallas Keuchel. Unfortunately for Boston, that was all they could mustard in the second as they left two men on base. Moving on to the bottom of the third, George Springer touched them all. Springer’s home run put the home side up by two. Later in the same inning, Jose Altuve got in the act as well with an RBI single, and the Astros took a 4-1 lead. Carson Smith then went in to relieve pitcher Drew Pomeranz. Smith’s shift did not last long as he loaded the bases and ultimately handed the baseball to David Price. Price was able to get the last two oust of the third inning with no further damage..
Keuchel seemed to have no troubles at the mound for the fourth inning and Price held his ground against Houston’s offense. Both pitchers also had spotless fifth frames. The sixth inning meant the end of the day for Keuchel as reliever Chris Devenski came in to get the final out of the inning. Eduardo Rodriguez came in to replace Price in the bottom of the sixth. Things did not go well for Rodriguez as he allowed a single to Marwin Gonzalez and hit catcher Brian McCann. After a double by Correa and an error by infielder Mookie Betts, the Red Sox found themselves down 8-1.
At Least They Have Pulse
As the Red Sox remained completely cold on offense, incapable of producing a rally, nothing changed on the scoreboard until the top of the ninth. Bradley Jr. showed some sings of life with an RBI single, but it was too little, too late as the Astros won 8-2.
The Red Sox face the Astros in a potential series clinching game on Sunday at 1:30 on FS1.