Carlos Correa hit a two-run shot while George Springer hammered a solo homer as the Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox, 8-2, Friday in Game 2 to take a 2-0 lead in the best-of-five American League Division Series at Minute Maid Park. Correa also hit a two-run double to finish with four RBIs, Game 1 hero Jose Altuve had an RBI and scored two runs, and Evan Gattis added an RBI single as the Astros moved to within one win for the AL Championship Series, where they will face the winner of the New York Yankees-Cleveland Indians clash.
Dallas Keuchel (1-0) lasted 5 2/3 innings, giving up one run on three hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
After surrendering an RBI single to Jackie Bradley Jr. in the second, Keuchel retired 13 straight batters before he departed following a walk to Hanley Ramirez. Drew Pomeranz (0-1) lasted just two innings after he yielded four runs on five hits with a walk and a strikeout while Bradley drove in two runs for the Red Sox. Veteran David Price made his seventh career relief appearance in the potseason when he pitched in the 3rd inning. Price lasted 2 ½ frames, giving up one hit with a walk and two strikeouts.
Astros scored twice in opening inning
For the second straight game, the Astros drew first blood as Correa hit a two-run shot with two outs in the opening frame off Pomeranz. In the second, Bradley cut the deficit to 2-1 with an RBI sngle.
However, Springer hit a solo homer and Altuve drove in a run for a 4-1 lead, ending Pomeranz’s start. In the sixth inning, the Astros stormed to an 8-1 lead behind Marwin Gonzalez’s run off a throwing error by Mookie Betts, Correa’s two-run double, and Gattis’ RBI single. Bradley hit an RBI single in the ninth inning for the final tally.
In the eighth, Betts experienced discomfort in his left wrist after fouling off a pitch. However, manager John Farrell said Betts will be fine to start Game 3.
Red Sox on the brink of elimination
When the series shifts to Fenway Park for Game 3, the Red Sox will try to recover from an 0-2 hole in the Division Series for the third time in club history.
The Red Sox previously accomplished this in 1999 and 2003. History is not on the Red Sox’s side, as 25 of the 30 teams that took the first two games went on to win the ALDS.
The Red Sox will start veteran right-hander Doug Fister. In his eight postseason starts, Fister has a 4-1 mark with a 1.78 ERA. Brad Peacock will take the mound for the Astros. In 21 starts in the regular season, Peacock had a 10-2 mark with an ERA of 3.22. Peacock fanned 135 batters in 111 and 2/3rds innings in the regular season.
