After 4 ballgames, the Houston Astros have defeated the Boston Red Sox at the ALDS. Let’s tale a look at the games that got Houston into the championship series.
Carbon Copies
The first two games were not that different. The Astros started strong, which was a common denominator for the entire series. Chris Sale went into the sixth inning despite giving up five runs in the first game. Eduardo Nunez re-injured his knee in that game, leaving us with a big if. Boston definitely missed Nunez’s production in the series. On the Houston side of things, Justin Verlander came up strong in the opener with six innings. Drew Pomeranz only lasted two innings on the mound. He then left the game for his bullpen. That did not go well either. Jose Altuve homered three times during the first game of the series. Both games ended with an identical 8-2 score.
Back From The Dead
It seemed like the Astros were ready for a sweep. Despite trailing by two games to none, Boston looked like a completely different team at Fenway Park. Josh Reddick and Carlos Correa got Doug Fister in early trouble. They also put the score 3-0 for the road team in the process. Fister went out early after just one and a third innings, handing the ball to Joe Kelly. Houston’s Brad Peacock left the game with only two and two third innings under his belts. He allowed an RBI single to Hanley Ramirez, cutting the deficit to 3-2. Three was all Houston could produce, as they were later shut down by David Price. A rally in the bottom of the seventh sealed the win for Boston, with Jackie Bradley hitting a three run home run. The final score was 10-3 and Boston was not dead, yet.
Finishing Things Up
Boston tried to force game five at home in the rain, but it was just not enough. Both teams traded runs during the first frame, with an RBI double play by Altuve and a home run by Xander Bogaerts. The score was locked at 1. Pitcher Charlie Morton escaped a bases loaded situation with two strikeouts. Manager John Farrell was ejected from the ballgame after arguing a strikeout to Dustin Pedroia. Sale came in to relieve in the fourth inning retiring the side in order. Morton did the same for his half of the fourth frame, with three strikeouts. It was not until the bottom of the fifth when Verlander came out of the pen only to give up a two run homer to Andrew Benintendi, putting Boston up, 3-2.
The Final Stride
Alex Bregman hit a home run in the top of the eighth to tie the score once again. Evan Gattis hit a single with the help of the bat girl. After two thirds of inning Sale handed the ball to closer Craig Kimbrel. With two men on board, Reddick singled, bringing home a run and putting Houston up by one. Carlos Beltran added one more run to the tally and the road team had the lead 5-3. Despite an inside the park home run by Rafael Devers, Boston was not able to come back, leaving the score 5-4 and putting an end to Boston’s season.
The Houston Astros will face either the New York Yankees or the Cleveland Indians at the ALCS
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