6 can’t-miss plays from the Red Sox’ thrilling Game 4 win over the Astros
Home runs, controversial calls and some great defensive plays.
If you missed the end of the Red Sox game, and that would be understandable given that it took four hours and 33 minutes to complete, we’ve got you covered. Game 4 of the American League Championship Series, which the Sox won, 8-6, had some memorable moments: Home runs, controversial calls, great defensive plays, and near-great defensive plays, to mention a few.
Here are six Red Sox plays you may have missed while you were sleeping:
1. Fan interference call goes the Red Sox way.
Granted, this happened in the first inning, so there’s a good chance you saw it. But considering the game didn’t start until 8:39 p.m., the play occurred after 9 p.m., so if you missed it, here’s what happened.
With a runner on first, Jose Altuve sent a Rick Porcello pitch to right field. Mookie Betts had a bead on it and timed his leap along the wall perfectly, but when he went to catch the ball, his glove was forced closed by a fan also trying to make the play. The ball came back into play.
Fans get in the way of Mookie Betts trying to make the catch.
Joe West, the umpire in right field, immediately signaled for fan interference and called Altuve out. West, the umpire crew chief, called for a video review, and the call was upheld as the crowd at Minute Maid Park booed loudly.
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2. Jackie Bradley Jr.’s home run gives the Red Sox the lead.
With the Red Sox trailing 5-4 in the top of the sixth, catcher Christian Vazquez kept the inning alive with a double. Bradley followed with a two-run homer to right field, giving the Red Sox a 6-5 lead. Bradley now has nine runs batted in on three hits in the series, the most RBIs for a Red Sox player in an LCS since Manny Ramirez had 10 in 2007.
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3. Carlos Correa fails to step on second base and turn a double play.
The Red Sox had runners on first and second in the seventh inning with one out after J.D. Martinez singled to left and Xander Bogaerts walked. Rafael Devers hit a grounder in what appeared to be an inning-ending double play, but shortstop Carlos Correa failed to step on second base to get the force on Bogaerts.
After Steve Pearce walked to load the bases, Brock Holt walked to score Martinez and give the Red Sox a 7-5 lead.
4. Pearce goes head over heels in the Astros dugout tracking a foul ball
With the Red Sox leading, 7-5, in the seventh inning, Pearce, still holding down the first base position with Mitch Moreland nursing a strained hamstring, tracked a foul pop-up over to the Astros dugout, where he leaned over the fence in front of the stair in an attempt to make a catch.
Steve Pearce goes after a foul ball in the seventh inning in front of the Astros dugout.
The ball was just out of his reach, and Pearce toppled over the fence, head first, into the Houston dugout.
Steve Pearce goes over the fence in front of Astros dugout.
5. Mookie throws out Tony Kemp in the eighth inning.
The Red Sox went to closer Craig Kimbrel with the hopes of a two-inning save in the eighth inning, but his postseason struggles continued, with No. 9 hitter Kemp stroking a line drive to right field. The speedy Kemp ran aggressively around first base and tried to stretch a single into a double, but Betts was able to field the ball cleanly and fire a laser to Bogaerts, who was covering second base on the play.
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Bogaerts slapped the tag on Kemp, and the out was recorded. That proved crucial as the next two Astros reached base safely.
Xander Bogaerts slaps the tag on Houston’s Tony Kemp after fielding a perfect strike from Mookie Betts.
6. Andrew Benintendi’s spectacular game-ending catch.
The Red Sox were clinging to an 8-6 lead in the bottom on the ninth with two outs. The Astros had the bases loaded, and No. 1 hitter Alex Bregman at the plate. With Kimbrel on the ropes, Bregman lined a shot to left field, but Andrew Benintendi went all in, diving for the game-ending catch to seal the win.
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