Red Sox fall to Astros 7-2 in ALCS Game 1
Yuli Gurriel's 9th inning home run broke the game open for Houston.
The Red Sox host the defending World Series champion Houston Astros on Saturday in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series. In the end, Houston came away with a 7-2 victory.
Here’s an inning-by-inning recap of the game:
9th inning: Astros 7, Red Sox 2
Bottom of the 9th
: Collin McHugh entered to pitch for Houston. Xander Bogaerts led off for the Red Sox with a single. McHugh got the first out when Steve Pearce was caught looking at strike three. Brock Holt lined out, and Eduardo Nunez grounded out to end Game 1.
Top of the 9th: Brandon Workman entered to pitch for the Red Sox. Josh Reddick led off the inning with a solo home run to extend Houston’s lead. George Springer struck out looking to give Workman his first out of the 9th. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman drew walks before Yuli Gurriel smashed a three-run home run. Tony Kemp followed up with a double.
Heath Hembree entered to pitch for Boston, walking Marwin Gonzalez. Gonzalez was then caught stealing, and Carlos Correa lined out to end the inning.
Say it nice and loud: WOOOOOO. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/FaVcJtVxDx
— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2018
The eight walks are the most by the Red Sox in a nine-inning playoff game since 1999.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2018
8th inning: Astros 3, Red Sox 2
Bottom of the 8th
: Lance McCullers entered to pitch for the Astros, getting Mookie Betts to ground out. Andrew Benintendi and J.D. Martinez followed with strikeouts, ending the inning.
Top of the 8th: Ryan Brasier entered the game to pitch for the Red Sox. He hit Tyler White before striking out Marwin Gonzalez. White stole second to move into scoring position before Brasier walked Carlos Correa. Martin Maldonado then grounded into an inning-ending double play.
It would appear that the Red Sox are trying to challenge Houston’s RHHs with fastballs up and in.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2018
7th inning: Astros 3, Red Sox 2
Bottom of the 7th
: Ryan Pressly entered the game for Houston, replacing Justin Verlander. He quickly got Brock Holt to on a swinging strike three. Eduardo Nunez reached on an error from Carlos Correa. Pressly responded by striking out Jackie Bradley Jr, and Alex Bregman’s well-executed running throw from third base retired Christian Vazquez to end the inning.
Top of the 7th: Matt Barnes continued on the mound for Boston. Eduardo Nunez made a fantastic diving stop on a grounder from Josh Reddick, turning and firing to first to get the out. George Springer drew a walk, followed by Barnes getting Jose Altuve to strike out. Alex Bregman walked, but a fielder’s choice from Yuli Gurriel ended the threat.
38,007 at Fenway, which is a sellout. But it’s also 1,144 fewer than Game 2 against the Yankees.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 14, 2018
6th inning: Astros 3, Red Sox 2
Bottom of the 6th
: Justin Verlander made quick work of the inning getting J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts and Steve Pearce all on groundouts to retire the side.
Top of the 6th: After Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected by home plate umpire James Hoye in between innings for arguing balls and strikes, Joe Kelly came back out for his second inning on the mound. Kelly hit Alex Bregman with a 100 mph fastball, followed by an Eduardo Nunez error on Yuli Gurriel’s grounder, putting two runners on with no outs. Tyler White promptly popped out for the first out of the inning, and Marwin Gonzalez struck out for the second.
Carlos Correa hit a single to left-center to drive in the third Astros run of the game. Matt Barnes entered the game for the Red Sox, replacing Joe Kelly, and induced an inning-ending groundout from Martin Maldonado.
.@TeamCJCorrea can handle the high heat. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/YgrNSsKSp4
— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2018
Here are the called strikes by James Hoye tonight (as seen on https://t.co/sD574f55ix). Two clean misses (most notably the Pearce K), one borderline pitch, but really hasn’t expanded the plate much for Verlander. pic.twitter.com/f62BWinMSH
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2018
5th inning: Astros 2, Red Sox 2
Bottom of the 5th
: Steve Pearce hit a full count fastball past Carlos Correa and into left field for a single. Brock Holt struck out looking for the inning’s first out. Eduardo Nunez and Jackie Bradley Jr. drew a pair of walks to load the bases.
Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Sandy Leon, and drew another walk to score Pearce for Boston’s first run of the night. Christian Vazquez came in to pinch run for Moreland. Mookie Betts then reached on a fielder’s choice. Jackie Bradley Jr. tied the game, scoring on a wild pitch from Justin Verlander. But Andrew Benintendi was caught looking on a third strike to end the threat.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected in between innings for arguing balls and strikes.
Benintendi strikes out looking and throws his helmet, bat and gloves. Coaches had to get him out of there.
He had a point: pic.twitter.com/TrUojgcGH6
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 14, 2018
Great jump by Bradley on the wild pitch and it’s tied.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 14, 2018
Top of the 5th: Joe Kelly entered from the Boston bullpen, ending Chris Sale’s night on the mound. Josh Reddick’s pop fly to right field was caught by a sprinting Mookie Betts, followed by George Springer grounding out to Eduardo Nunez. Jose Altuve then popped out to Brock Holt to end the inning.
Sale’s done after four labor intensive innings. Only gave up one hit – but the four walks and hit batter turned that into two runs. His stuff and command were down considerably; his competitiveness wasn’t, thus the modest yield of 2 runs. Still, not remotely what he set out to do
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2018
4th inning: Astros 2, Red Sox 0
Bottom of the 4th
: Andrew Benintendi took Justin Verlander to a full count, but struck out swinging. J.D. Martinez flew out to Josh Reddick in right field. Xander Bogaerts became the tenth Red Sox batter in a row to be retired by Verlander, ending the inning with a pop out to first base caught in foul territory.
Top of the 4th: Chris Sale got Marwin Gonzalez to fly out to centerfield to open the inning. Carlos Correa struck out swinging for the second out, and Martin Maldonado’s strikeout gave Sale his own 1-2-3 inning.
Filthy. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/X33xFk5iRq
— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2018
Sale’s slider returns and he throws a 1-2-3 fourth inning, his best of the night.
But 86 pitches and the bullpen is moseying around.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 14, 2018
3rd inning: Astros 2, Red Sox 0
Bottom of the 3rd
: Jackie Bradley Jr. flew out to centerfield on the first pitch from Justin Verlander. Sandy Leon followed by striking out for the second out of the inning. Verlander completed another 1-2-3 inning, inducing a groundout from Mookie Betts.
Top of the 3rd: Alex Bregman drew a leadoff walk from Chris Sale. Yuli Gurriel popped out for the first out of the inning. Bregman was then thrown out at second by Red Sox catcher Sandy Leon (a decision that was upheld after review). Sale then got Tyler White to strike out to retire the side.
2nd inning: Astros 2, Red Sox 0
Bottom of the 2nd
: Justin Verlander started the inning by striking out Steve Pearce and Brock Holt. Eduardo Nunez then grounded out to Carlos Correa to end the inning.
Going into the game, Sox lineup was a collective 25 of 114 (.219) vs. Verlander. 1 x 6 so far.
— Pete Abraham (@PeteAbe) October 14, 2018
Top of the 2nd: Tyler White was caught looking on strike three by Chris Sale to open the second inning. Marwin Gonzalez promptly lined out to second base for the second out of the inning. Carlos Correa drew a two-out walk, and Sale hit Martin Maldonado with a 96 mph fastball to put two runners on. Another walk to Josh Reddick loaded the bases.
George Springer lined a full count single past third base to score Correa and Maldonado. Jose Altuve then grounded into a fielder’s choice, retiring the side.
#Postseason Springer isn’t getting out here. #ALCS pic.twitter.com/PmJ4RMxv7E
— MLB (@MLB) October 14, 2018
1st inning: Astros 0, Red Sox 0
Bottom of the 1st
: Mookie Betts lined the second pitch of his leadoff at-bat into right field for a single. Andrew Benintendi flew out to left field for the first out. Mookie Betts advanced to second on a wild pitch by Astros starter Justin Verlander. After J.D. Martinez drew a walk. Xander Bogaerts grounded into an inning-ending double play.
Betts lines an 0-1 fastball to right for a single – short, inside-out swing. Benintendi looks like he’s choking up. Sox’ top two hitters looking for contact against Verlander’s impressive swing/miss stuff.
— Alex Speier (@alexspeier) October 14, 2018
Top of the 1st: Chris Sale began his night by walking George Springer after reaching a full count. Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman were retired on fielders’ choices (Bregman’s was called after a review). Sale then struck out Yuli Gurriel to end the threat.
Pregame sights and sounds
YOOOOUK!!! pic.twitter.com/aVUvIqMYNK
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 14, 2018
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1051239555167346690
https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1051235133146234880
Hear from your #RedSox before Game 1 of the ALCS! https://t.co/WM3xfqavbe
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 13, 2018
AJ Hinch and Game 2 starter Gerrit Cole address the media. #Astros https://t.co/kPUoE28U2D
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 13, 2018
The Patriots wished the Red Sox good luck:
https://twitter.com/Patriots/status/1051148810150391808
The weather: Temperatures are forecast to be about 50 degrees when the game starts.
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Lineups
LHP Chris Sale and RHP Justin Verlander are the starters. Peter Abraham wrote about the matchup and how both hurlers intend to stay on the mound as long as they can. “Obviously we both have very good bullpens and big arms on either side. But this is more, I guess, the traditional way to play the game, and the way I like to play the game,’’ Sale said Friday.
RED SOX (108-54 regular season, 3-1 ALDS)
We’re ready.#DoDamage pic.twitter.com/RWTwyrFwJ0
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 13, 2018
Notable: Mitch Moreland is out of the lineup for the third straight game. Brock Holt is in the lineup, rather than Ian Kinsler. Against Verlander, Holt is 3 of 10 with two RBIs and two walks, and Kinsler is 8 of 43 with two doubles, an RBI, nine strikeouts, and six walks.
ASTROS (103-59 regular season, 3-0 ALDS)
Starting nine for Game 1. #NeverSettle https://t.co/a4jd9EOPks
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 13, 2018
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■ Verlander led the Astros in wins (16), strikeouts (290), and innings pitched (214) in the regular season and led starters in ERA (2.52). Against the Sox this season: 0-0 in one start, striking out six and allowing two earned runs on three hits over six innings. ALDS performance: In Game 1, Verlander went 5⅓ innings, striking out seven and walking two of the 20 batters he faced while giving up only two runs on two hits. He threw 102 pitches, 70 for strikes.
■ Sale went 0-1 in one start against the Astros this season. He allowed four runs (one HR) on six hits and struck out six over six innings. Saturday night marks his third postseason start, his second against the Astros. In Game 1 of last year’s ALDS, he went five innings, giving up seven runs (three homers) on nine hits and struck out six over five innings.
■ Other notes: Rick Porcello and Nathan Eovaldi are available out of the bullpen tonight. The Astros won four of seven games against the Sox in the regular season. Here is Abraham’s full game preview.
Pregame reading
■ Retired Red Sox fan favorites reflect on their experiences playing at Fenway Park
■ Watch David Ortiz mercilessly douse Alex Rodriguez in champagne
■ Red Sox set roster for ALCS vs. Astros
■ After getting released by the Astros in 2014, JD Martinez holds no grudge
■ Astros bulk up with pitchers for ALCS against Red Sox
■ 8 things to know about the Astros and Red Sox’ ALCS reunion
■ A Red Sox fan woke up from surgery and offered a hilarious reaction to the Yankees’ loss
■ The Astros are confident they’re even better this time around in ALCS
■ A preview look at the Astros-Red Sox AL Championship Series
