Morton got the ball in the top of the first and the Sox struck first. Mr. Mookie Betts was plunked to begin but once again the Astros defense had a horseshoe up its ass as Marwin Gonzalez made a great diving stab to rob Andrew Benintendi of a hit, although Betts advanced to second. JD Martinez drew a full count walk on the outside corner before a passed ball advanced both runners into scoring position. Xander Bogaerts whiffed on a curve in the dirt but Rafael Devers sliced a single to left to score both runners to give the Sox the lead. Steve Pearce grounded out to second to end the inning but the Sox were up 2-0.
Porcello was handed a two run lead to work with and Alex Bregman grounded out to short to begin the bottom of the first. George Springer singled to right and Jose Altuve jacked one deep to right. Mr. Mookie jumped to make the catch but a fan in the stands closed Mookie's glove before he could make the catch. The ball caromed off into the field for a double as the Red Sox complained. The umpires got together to review the play and surprisingly Joe West called fan interference, Altuve was out and Springer had to go back to first. The call proved huge as he plunked Gonzalez and Yuli Gurriel flied out to right to end the inning. Instead of a sac fly, it was the third out to end the inning as Houston erupted in boo's.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the second as Brock "The Hitman" Holt grounded out to second to start. Christian Vazquez popped up to Morton but Jackie Bradley Jr walked. Mr. Mookie flied out to center to end the inning. The Astros fought back in the bottom of the second as Josh Reddick doubled into the left field corner and Carlos Correa singled him home. Porcello caught a break when Martin Maldonado popped up a bunt to Vazquez before he punched out Tony Kemp. Bregman grounded out to second to end the inning but the Astros were down 2-1.
Benintendi doubled off the top of the centerfield wall to begin the top of the third but Martinez whiffed. A passed ball moved Benintendi to third and Bogaerts lashed a double down the left field line to score him to increase the lead. That was it for Morton as AJ Hinch went to his bullpen in the third inning after 2 1/3 innings. Josh James came in and punched out Devers then walked to the dugout not realizing there were only two outs. Pearce grounded out to third to end the inning but the Sox were ahead 3-1.
The Astros wasted no time tying the game in the bottom of the third as Springer crushed a 400,000 foot bomb to start the frame. Altuve smashed a double to left but somehow Porcello got Gonzalez to fly out to right. Gurriel hit one up the elevator shaft but Reddick singled home Altuve to tie the game. Correa whiffed to end the inning but it was 3-3.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the fourth as Holt grounded out to first to start. Vazquez whiffed but JBJ walked. JBJ then got thrown out at second trying to steal to end the inning. The Astros took command in the bottom of the fourth although Maldonado grounded out to third to begin. Kemp launched a 25,000 foot home run to give the Astros the lead. Bregman whiffed but Springer walked and took second when Porcello threw the pickoff throw away. Altuve popped up to first to end the inning with the Astros ahead 4-3. That was it for Porcello who failed to give the Sox a decent outing by giving up 4 runs in 4 innings.
The Sox struck back in the top of the fifth although Mr. Mookie whiffed to start. Benintendi doubled to center but Martinez grounded out to short. Bogaerts came up big again with a base hit to score Benintendi to tie the game. Devers whiffed to end the inning but it was tied 4-4.
The Astros answered in the bottom of the fifth against Joe Kelly although Gonzalez grounded out to first to start. Gurriel singled but Reddick whiffed. The Astros took advantage of a wild pitch by Kelly that advanced Gurriel by scoring him with a Correa single. Maldonado grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 5-4 Astros.
The Sox wouldn't go quietly in the top of the sixth although Pearce whiffed to start. Holt grounded out to first but Vazquez doubled. The frontrunning ALCS MVP Jackie Bradley Jr put the Sox on top with a home run to right field. Mr. Mookie flied out to left to end the inning but it was 6-5 Sox.
Alex Cora sent Eduardo Rodriguez to the mound to see if he could pitch a big game situation in the bottom of the sixth. Rodriguez responded by walking Kemp on 6 pitches and Cora could only shake his head as he removed him for Ryan Brasier. Bregman flied out to center and Springer erased Kemp on a force before Altuve grounded out to end the inning.
The Sox tacked it on in the top of the seventh against Ryan Pressly although Benintendi flied out to center to begin. Martinez singled and Bogaerts walked, but Correa failed to step on second during a double play relay to first off a Devers grounder so there were runners on second and third. Pearce walked to load the bases and Astros manager AJ Hinch brought in Lance McCullers Jr to pitch to The Hitman. Holt drew a walk to score Martinez with the insurance run. Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Vazquez but grounded out to first to end the inning but it was 7-5 Sox.
Sandy Leon took over behind the plate as Brasier came back for the bottom of the seventh. Gonzalez singled to start but Gurriel flied out to right. Reddick flied out to right but Correa doubled into the right field corner. Tyler White pinch hit for Maldonado and Sox manager Alex Cora brought in Matt Barnes to pitch to him. With immense pressure on Barnes, he came up big by freezing White with a curveball for strike three to end the inning.
The Sox added more insurance in the top of the eighth although JBJ lined out to center to begin with Brian McCann now behind the plate. Mr. Mookie lined a base hit to left but Benintendi flied out to left. A wild pitch moved Betts to second and Martinez took advantage with an rbi single to score him. Bogaerts grounded to short to end the inning but it was 8-5 Sox.
Sox manager Alex Cora said to hell with tomorrow and sent in Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel for the 6 out save in the top of the eighth. Things looked bleak when Kemp singled to right but he tried for second and Mr. Mookie gunned him down at second for a huge out. Kimbrel had Bregman down 0-2 and hit him before Springer doubled to left. Altuve grounded out to short but Bregman scored to cut the lead. Springer swiped third but Kimbrel blew away Gonzalez to end the inning with the Sox up 8-6.
The Sox threatened to ice the game in the top of the ninth against Tony Sipp although Devers whiffed to start. Pearce walked and Holt singled to chase Sipp as Lance McCullers Jr was brought in. Leon flied out to center but JBJ was plunked to load the bases. Reddick made a great running catch on Mr. Mookie to end the inning. An exhausted Kimbrel returned for the bottom of the ninth with Ian Kinsler now playing second in Devers spot with Holt moving to third. Gurriel popped up to second but Reddick and Correa drew back to back walks. McCann hit a line drive deep to right but Betts snared it at the wall for the second out, Reddick moving to third. Kemp walked to load the bases to bring up Bregman. Bregman poked one to shallow left but Benintendi dove for it....AND MADE THE CATCH! THE RED SOX WIN! The Sox were now up 3 games to 1 in the series after the 8-6 win.
Hero of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. His 2 run home run gave the Sox the lead for good in the top of the sixth.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 5 with 2 runs scored.
JD Martinez was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Xander Bogaerts was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 rbis.
Christian Vazquez was 1 for 3 with a run scored.
Ryan Brasier tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Matt Barnes struck out the only man he faced.
The Bad:
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 1 as a pinch hitter.
Sandy Leon was 0 for 1.
Rick Porcello made an error and allowed 4 runs in just 4 innings of work including giving up 2 home runs.
Joe Kelly gave up a run in the 5th inning.
Eduardo Rodriguez walked the only man he faced.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 but was hit with a pitch, scored 2 runs and made a big outfield assist.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts but drove in 2 runs.
Steve Pearce was 0 for 3 but walked twice.
Brock Holt was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Craig Kimbrel got the 6 out save but allowed a run on 2 hits, 3 walks and a hit batsman.
Honorable Mention:
Ian Kinsler played second base in the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
That was too close for comfort but a win is a win. The Red Sox have been scoffed at all year as pretenders to the almighty New York Yankees and Astros but they are just one win away from reaching the World Series. This game had everything from controversy to home runs to assists to clutch hitting to clutch pitching and the Sox came out on top. Its seems almost miraculous that a team that won 108 games in the regular season and blitzed through the ALDS could be underdogs against the Astros but here we are....and they're one win away from the fall classic. At this point its very apparent that unlike the Yankees, the Astros bullpen can be scored upon. If the Sox want to get to the world series they might have to turn the clock back 5 years to the 2013 method of fouling 100 pitches off to get the starter out. It may not be pretty but it would be effective. The Sox bullpen has been terrible since June but Brasier and Barnes have stepped up big time. Tomorrow night the Sox look to close out the series with David Price getting one more shot at redemption. He's going to have to pitch well because the Astros will be sending Justin Verlander out after he allowed just 2 runs in 6 innings of work in Game 1. The game begins at 8:00 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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