Keuchel took the mound in the top of the first and Mr. Mookie Betts lined a single up the middle to start. Andrew Benintendi sliced a single in the hole at third and JD Martinez lined a double down the right field line to score Betts. Xander Bogaerts grounded out to short but Martinez moved to third and Benintendi scored another run. Steve Pearce failed to get the run in as he grounded out to second and Eduardo Nunez lined out to second to end the inning but the Sox struck first 2-0.
Eovaldi got the ball in the bottom of the first and whiffed George Springer on a cutter on the outside corner to begin. Jose Altuve lined a single to left and naturally Alex Bregman singled in the hole at short. Yuli Gurriel beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners after Nunez bobbled it and naturally Marwin Gonzalez singled home Altuve, moving Bregman to third. Josh Reddick flied out to left to end the inning but it was 2-1 Sox and Eovaldi was up to 26 pitches.
The miserable bottom of the Sox order did nothing in the top of the second as Ian Kinsler popped up to right to start. Christian Vazquez popped up to center and Jackie Bradley Jr grounded out to short to end the inning. The Astros drove up Eovaldi's pitch count in the bottom of the second as miraculously Nunez made a play to throw out Carlos Correa at first to start. Brian McCann whiffed on a cutter and Tony Kemp popped up to center to end the inning but Eovaldi had tossed 44 pitches.
The Sox did nothing in the top of the third inning as Mr. Mookie popped up to left and Benintendi grounded out to second. Martinez and Bogaerts drew back to back walks but Kemp made a jumping catch at the wall to rob Pearce of a double to end the inning. The Astros nearly took the lead in the bottom of the third as Springer singled to right to start. Altuve beat out a double play ball and Bregman walked AGAIN. Gurriel advanced both runners by grounding out to third before Benintendi had to make a catch at the wall to rob Gonzalez of the go-ahead double to end the inning.
Somehow Nunez beat out an infield single to open the top of the fourth but collapsed in a heap after touching first. Nunez was hauled off on a gurney and Rafael Devers pinch ran for him. Reddick made a great diving catch to rob Kinsler of an rbi double before Vazquez lined a bullet....right to Reddick. JBJ grounded out meekly to end the inning. Eovaldi cruised in the bottom of the fourth as Reddick grounded out to second to start. Correa whiffed on a curveball and McCann lined out to center to end the inning with Eovaldi at 65 pitches.
Keuchel cruised in the top of the fifth inning as Mr. Mookie grounded off the glove of Keuchel right to Correa for the out. Correa then made a great lunging play to rob Benintendi of an infield hit before Martinez grounded out weakly to third to end the inning. The Astros finally tied the game in the bottom of the fifth although Kemp grounded out to first to start. Springer hit an absolute rocket but right to Pearce before Altuve drew a walk and Bregman hit a routine grounder to Devers.....RIGHT THROUGH HIS GLOVE! Altuve came all the way around to score the tying run as the ball went into the corner and although Gurriel grounded out to short to end the inning, the game was tied 2-2.
Somehow the Sox responded in the top of the sixth with Joe Smith now on the mound. Bogaerts popped up 20 feet in front of the plate to short to start but Pearce somehow bashed a 456 foot home run off the building wall in left to give the Sox the lead back. That was it for Smith as Tony Sipp came in to face the lefty Devers only to walk him. Naturally Kinsler whiffed on a pitch in the dirt before Bregman made an outstanding diving play to get Vazquez to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-2.
Eovaldi somehow got through the bottom of the sixth as Gonzalez grounded out to second to start. Eovaldi blew away Reddick but Astros luck struck again when Correa singled off the glove of Pearce to extend the inning. McCann hit one a mile to center but JBJ caught it to end the inning. That was it for Eovaldi who did what he could but was failed by his defense, still tossing 6 innings of 2 run ball.
Ryan Pressly came in for the top of the seventh and JBJ whiffed badly to start. Mr. Mookie hit a slow roller but once again Bregman fired a bullet to first for the out. Benintendi whiffed badly on a pitch in the dirt to end the inning. Sox manager Dr. Quick Hook Cora pulled Eovaldi for Ryan Brasier in the bottom of the seventh and Kemp lined out to left to start. Brasier blew away Springer but Altuve caught Vazquez asleep with a bunt single. A passed ball moved Altuve to second but Brasier got a huge out by getting Bregman to line out to center to end the inning.
The Sox iced the game against Roberto Osuna in the top of the eighth inning. Martinez flied out to right but Bogaerts reached on a squibber in front of the plate. Bregman made yet another great play to get Bogaerts on second on the force by Pearce before Devers singled through the shift. Brock "The Hitman" Holt pinch hit for Kinsler only to get plunked to load the bases. Mitch Moreland pinch hit for Vazquez and he was plunked as well to score Bogaerts. Sandy Leon pinch ran for Moreland and JBJ smashed a grand slam to right to clear out the crowd, icing the game. That was it for Osuna as Collin McHugh came in to pitch and Mr. Mookie grounded out to second to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-2.
Matt Barnes came in for the bottom of the eighth and promptly walked Gurriel. Gurriel was erased on the force by Gonzalez before Reddick whiffed. Sox manager Alex Cora decided to save some bullets for tomorrow by lifting Barnes for Joe Kelly. Kelly got Correa to ground out to short to end the inning.
Hector Rondon came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Benintendi singled to right to start. Martinez banged into a double play before Bogaerts grounded out to short to end the inning. Eduardo Rodriguez had mop up duty in the bottom of the ninth as Tyler White pinch hit for McCann only to strike out swinging. Evan Gattis pinch hit for Kemp and grounded out to short. Springer whiffed to end the game. The Sox had taken a 2 games to 1 lead with an 8-2 victory.
Hero of the Night is Nathan Eovaldi. He tossed 6 solid innings to earn the win allowing just 2 runs (off a bad play by Devers) while striking out 4.
The Good:
Andrew Benintendi was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Eduardo Nunez was 1 for 2.
Rafael Devers singled, walked and scored a run.
Mitch Moreland was plunked to drive in a run.
Sandy Leon scored a run as a pinch runner.
Brock Holt was plunked and scored a run.
Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless 7th inning.
Matt Barnes pitched 2/3 of a scoreless inning.
Joe Kelly retired the only man he faced.
Eduardo Rodriguez pitched a scoreless 9th inning.
The Bad:
Ian Kinsler was 0 for 3 with a strikeout.
Christian Vazquez was 0 for 3.
The Ugly:
Mookie Betts was just 1 for 5 but scored a run.
JD Martinez was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4 but walked and drove in a run.
Steve Pearce was just 1 for 4 but scored two total runs and hit a 457 foot homer.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but made the hit count as it was a grand slam to ice the game.
Final Thoughts:
Three games into the ALCS and its very apparent that these are not the same teams from last year. The Red Sox are hungrier and the Astros look to be weaker than last year despite the addition of Gerrit Cole. Bandwagon Astros fans are chirping that Altuve and Correa are hurt nevermind the fact Nunez can't stay upright, Dustin Pedroia and Steven Wright are gone and Mitch Moreland is playing hurt as well. Still this was a huge win considering the Sox struggles in Houston the past two years. Eovaldi stepped up big again and so did the bullpen to lock it down. The Astros are reeling after dropping two games in a row and the Sox can some put some serious pressure on tomorrow night. Tomorrow night "Slick" Rick Porcello takes the ball up against Charlie Morton on the hill for the Astros. The Sox can put the Astros on the brink if they can take Game 4 tomorrow night at 8:30 PM at Minute Maid Park.
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