Price got the ball in the top of the first and George Springer popped up to first to start. Naturally Jose Altuve and Alex Bregman drew back to back walks before he froze Yuli Gurriel for strike three on the inside corner. Tyler White whiffed to end the inning. Cole got the start for the Astros in the bottom of the first and the Sox tagged him. Mr. Mookie Betts greeted him with a double off the centerfield wall before Andrew Benintendi lined a single to right center to score Betts and give the Sox the lead. JD Martinez lined out to second before Xander Bogaerts hit a little tapper to the mound. Cole threw the ball away for an error to advance both runners into scoring position. Steve Pearce walked to load the bases and Rafael Devers should have been rung up for strike three, but instead he singled to left to score Benintendi and reload the bases. Ian Kinsler killed the rally by whiffing on 3 pitches before Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 2-0.
The Sox defense let Price down in the top of the second although Marwin Gonzalez grounded out to second to start. Bogaerts lollygagged after a ground ball by Carlos Correa and Carlos beat out the infield single. Martin Maldonado made Bogaerts pay with a double into the left field corner although Price somehow got Josh Reddick to pop up to second. Just like last night, you give the Astros extra outs and they kill you and Springer blooped a 2 run double into the right field corner to tie the game. Price blew away Altuve to end the inning but it was 2-2.
Cole settled down in the bottom of the second as Christian Vazquez flied out harmlessly to right. Mr. Mookie popped up to center and Benintendi flied out harmlessly to left to end the inning.
The Astros iced the game in the top of the third although Bregman to popped up to Vazquez in foul territory to open the top of the third before Gurriel singled. White flied out to right but Gonzalez crushed a 400,000 foot home run to put the Astros up for good. Correa flied out to left to end the inning but it was 4-2 Astros.
The Sox wasted no time getting back in the game in the bottom of the third. Martinez whiffed but Bogaerts singled. Pearce doubled off the Monster before Devers walked to load the bases. Cora let Kinsler who was 2 for 26 against Cole hit away and naturally he whiffed. JBJ then sliced a double off the Monster that bounced on top of the shelf of the foul wall to score all 3 runners to give the Sox the lead. Vazquez whiffed to end the inning with the Sox somehow ahead 5-4.
More surprising was Price having a shut down inning in the top of the fourth. He finally unleashed his changeup to strike out Maldonado to start. Reddick lined out to left and Springer flied out to right to end the inning. Cole cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Mr. Mookie continued his uselessness by grounding back to the mound to start. Benintendi lined out to center before Martinez flied out to center to end the inning.
Price came back for the top of the fifth and got a good play from Devers to get Altuve at first for the first out. Naturally Bregman walked AGAIN before moving to second on the Gurriel grounder to short. White walked and Dr. Quick Hook Cora decided that was it for Price. Another post-season dud for Price by allowing 4 runs in just 4 2/3 innings.
Matt Barnes came in and struck out Gonzalez on four pitches to end the inning with the lead intact. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fifth as Bogaerts grounded out to third to start. Pearce whiffed and Devers grounded back to the mound to end the inning.
Barnes cruised in the top of the sixth inning as Bogaerts learned from his earlier mistake to quickly gun to first on a grounder by Correa for the first out. Maldonado popped up to third and Devers made a hell of a play to rob Reddick of extra bases to end the inning. For whatever reason Kinsler was allowed to hit against Cole in the bottom of the sixth and he grounded out to short to start. JBJ looked to have been retired on a squibber in front of the mound but eagle eyed Cora challenged that it was a foul ball. The call was reversed but JBJ flied out to right anyway. Vazquez grounded out to third to end the inning.
Ryan Brasier had the top of the seventh and got Springer to fly out to right to start. Altuve hit a bullet but JBJ ran it down for the second out. The pain in the ass Bregman walked AGAIN but Gurriel grounded into a force to end the inning. Lance McCullers Jr got the ball for the Astros in the bottom of the seventh and somehow Mr. Mookie walked. Benintendi whiffed badly on a pitch in the dirt but that allowed Betts to take second base. Betts took third on a passed ball but Martinez gagged by whiffing badly. The Sox caught a break when Maldonado muffed another passed ball to score Betts with the insurance run. Astros manager AJ Hinch decided to bring in Josh James in the middle of the count to pitch to Bogaerts and he walked anyway. Pearce grounded out to short to end the inning but it was 6-4 Sox.
Cora rolled the dice by having Game 4 starter "Slick" Rick Porcello come out for the top of the eighth inning and Tony Kemp pinch hit for White and grounded out to first to begin. Porcello blew away Gonzalez with a high fastball and fooled Correa with a slider to end the inning. Devers tried to start a bottom of the eighth rally with a base hit to right but Kinsler half assed swung for strike three. JBJ whiffed but Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Vazquez and singled. The slow Sandy Leon pinch ran for Moreland and that was it for McCullers. Hector Rondon was brought in to pitch to Betts and Mr. Mookie made the Astros pay with an rbi double to score Devers with a huge insurance run. Tony Sipp was brought in to replace Rondon and fell behind 3-0 but Benintendi foolishly popped up to left rather than take a pitch to end the inning with the Sox up 7-4.
Craig "The Buzzard" Kimbrel came in with a 3 run lead to close out the top of the ninth with Evan Gattis pinch hitting for Maldonado. Kimbrel got the bearded Gattis to pop up to second before blowing away Reddick. Houston extended the inning when Springer doubled to left and took third on a wild pitch. Altuve drove a double off the Monster to bring up the white hot Bregman. Beniteni climbed the Monster to haul in Bregman's fly and that was it. The Sox had evened the series going back to Houston with a 7-5 win.
Hero of the Night is Jackie Bradley Jr. His three run double put the Sox up for good in the bottom of the third.
The Good:
Mookie Betts was 2 for 4 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Christian Vazquez and singled.
Xander Bogaerts was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Steve Pearce was 1 for 3 with a walk and a run scored.
Rafael Devers was 2 for 3 with a walk, rbi and 2 runs scored.
Matt Barnes earned the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Rick Porcello pitched a scoreless 8th inning.
The Bad:
JD Martinez was 0 for 4 with 2 strikeouts.
Ian Kinsler was 0 for 4 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 5 but drove in a run and scored.
David Price put in a D+ effort, lasting just 4 2/3 innings while allowing 4 runs although the first two weren't totally his fault.
Craig Kimbrel allowed yet another run but still locked down the save in the top of the ninth.
Honorable Mention:
Sandy Leon pinch ran for Moreland and caught the bottom of the ninth.
Final Thoughts:
Once again David Price couldn't get it done in the playoffs but at least the offense showed up against a tough pitcher. Cole had been masterful so far this post-season and the Sox got to him for 5 runs. The much maligned Sox bullpen got the job done (sans Kimbrel) and the Sox have a bit of a chip on their shoulder going to Houston. Not only Astros fans but disgruntled Yankee fans were saying the Astros would sweep or win in 5 and now the Sox are in good shape headed to Game 3. Having Mookie Betts heat up is crucial if the Sox have any hope of winning the pennant. JD Martinez historically doesn't hit the Astros well so they're going to have to pull a 2013 Sox and win this series with timely hitting instead of consistent. JBJ was the timely hitting tonight and they're gonna need that from someone in Game 3. The series shifts to Houston where Nathan Eovaldi takes the ball for the Sox opposite Dallas Keuchel on Tuesday afternoon at 5:00 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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