ALCS GAME 4: RED SOX 8, ASTROS 6
Astros come up short in Game 4, lose to Red Sox 8-6, trail in ALCS 3-1
Oct 18, 2018, 12:40 am
This play cost the Astros big time. Bob Levey/Getty Images
After a controversial call early in the game potentially erased two runs from Houston, both teams went back-and-forth with the Red Sox ultimately coming out ahead, edging out the Astros 8-6 to win the last three games and take a commanding 3-1 lead in the ALCS. The Red Sox are now one win away from eliminating Houston and moving on to the World Series.
Charlie Morton did not get far into Game 4, going just two and one-third innings during which he allowed three runs on three hits with two walks. The bullpen behind him too would fall victim to Boston's potent offense, allowing five more runs. For the Astros, George Springer and Tony Kemp hit solo home runs, Carlos Correa drove in two runs, and Jose Altuve and Josh Reddick each had an RBI as well in the loss.
The Red Sox were able to once again get runs in the first inning to set the tone their way early, getting the best of Morton in the top of the first inning. Morton hit Betts to start the game, walked J.D. Martinez with one out, then allowed a two-RBI single to Rafael Devers with two outs to give Boston the quick 2-0 lead. Springer, moved down to second in the lineup behind Alex Bregman, hit a one-out single in the bottom of the inning off of Rick Porcello. Altuve was up next, and drilled a ball to right field that made it into the first row, but Mookie Betts was able to leap high enough to contest the ball with a fan in the front row, and what arguably should have been ruled and left as a home run was instead ruled fan interference which stayed that way after a review. So instead of tying the game, the Astros would end up empty-handed in the inning, leaving it a 2-0 deficit.
Morton had a much smoother top of the second, working around a two-out walk to keep Boston from scoring any more runs. In the bottom of the inning, Reddick led off with a double, allowing Correa to trim the Red Sox lead to one run with an RBI-single off of Porcello to make it a 2-1 game. Porcello was able to get the next three batters in order to stop the threat there, though.
Andrew Benintendi missed a solo home run by just a foot or so to lead off the top of the third, but instead, it would be a double off the wall. He would move to third on another ball that Martin Maldonado let get past him, then scored on an RBI-double by Xander Bogaerts that would end Morton's night early, and bring in Josh James from the bullpen, who was able to get the last two outs of the inning. Springer hit a no-replay-needed dinger to lead off the bottom of the inning, bringing the Astros back within one run at 3-2. Altuve was next and hit one just short of a home run himself, off the top of the left field wall, but stayed on second for two outs before Reddick came through with another hit on the night, an RBI-single to tie the game 3-3 before Porcello could end the inning.
Josh James continued to throw heat in the top of the fourth, getting a couple of outs before a walk resulted in a caught stealing by Maldonado who cannoned a ball to second for the third out. Kemp gave Houston their first lead of the game, finally, with a one-out solo home run to make it 4-3 Houston in the bottom of the inning.
Just like in the third inning, it was Benintendi getting a double that set up another score, a two-out RBI single by Bogaerts that made it 4-4 off of James who remained in the game to eat up some innings. Porcello's night was done after four innings, with Joe Kelly coming in from Boston's bullpen to pitch the bottom of the fifth, and allowed a one-out single to Yuli Gurriel who then moved to second on a wild pitch. Correa was up with two outs and a chance to put Houston back ahead and came through with his second RBI of the night, a single to make it 5-4 Astros.
James continued on in the top of the sixth and after a two-out double allowed a two-run go-ahead home run to Jackie Bradley Jr. to put Boston back in front 6-5. In the bottom of the inning, Eduardo Rodriguez started the inning but was quickly pulled after a leadoff walk to Tony Kemp, with the Red Sox going to Ryan Brasier to face Bregman. Brasier would win the battle, and the next two as well, to get three outs to strand Kemp and maintain the one-run lead.
Ryan Pressly took over for Houston in the top of the seventh but was unable to get his usual dominant inning, instead, he loaded the bases with two outs, prompting A.J. Hinch to go to Lance McCullers Jr., who walked in a run before getting the final out. Brasier returned for a second inning in the bottom of the seventh, but it was Marwin Gonzalez who won the first at-bat with a bloop single to lead things off. Brasier was able to get the next two outs on fly balls, then Carlos Correa hit a double to the right-field corner to put runners on second and third and bring in another reliever for Boston, Matt Barnes. Barnes would face the pinch-hitting Tyler White and strike him out looking to end the inning.
McCullers Jr. was back on the mound in the top of the eighth and allowed a one-out single to Betts, who moved to second on yet another wild pitch, then scored on an RBI single from J.D. Martinez to extend the lead to 8-5. In the bottom of the inning, Boston went to closer Craig Kimbrel. Kemp led off the inning for a single but got thrown out trying to advance to second on a perfect throw from Betts for the first out. Bregman went to first on a hit-by-pitch, then to third on a one-out double by Springer. Altuve was next, and scored Bregman on an RBI-groundout to make it 8-6, but left Springer on second with two outs. Springer would steal third, but get left stranded there as Kimbrel would get a strikeout of Gonzalez to end the inning.
Tony Sipp started in the top of the ninth, but after issuing a one-out walk then single was pulled for Collin McHugh. McHugh was able to get the final two outs thanks to an amazing diving catch from Reddick to keep it a two-run game. Kimbrel was tasked with a six-out save by coming back out for the bottom of the ninth but struggled to find the zone walking back-to-back batters with one out, bringing the go-ahead run to the plate in Brian McCann. McCann flew out to right field for the second out, but Kimbrel would walk Kemp next to load the bases, bringing up Bregman. Bregman came out swinging, lining a ball to left field, but Benintendi would play the hero, making a diving catch to save the game for the Red Sox.
Game 5: The final game in Houston, and possibly the series, will be tonight at 7 p.m. Central, and can be seen again on TBS. We know that it will be ace Justin Verlander going for Houston, who was a part of Houston's only win of this series so far in Game 1. Boston's starter has not yet been named, as it's uncertain if David Price will be available after warming up in the bullpen during the late stages of Game 4. In any case, the Astros will have to win three straight to take the series and advance, and this is likely their easiest matchup of the possible remaining three games.
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With the Astros now officially ten games under .500 for the season, manager Joe Espada is taking a lot of heat from the fanbase for the team's struggles.
While we don't agree with the sentiment, we even hear fans clamoring for the return of Dusty Baker and Martin Maldonado, thinking the Astros wouldn't be in this mess if they were still here.
Which is ridiculous. First of all, Maldonado has been awful for the White Sox, hitting .048 (even worse than Jose Abreu's .065). And for those of you that think his work with the pitching staff justifies his pathetic offense. Let me say this: Where was Maldy's game calling genius for Hunter Brown, Cristian Javier, and Framber Valdez last year? All of them regressed significantly.
And as far as Baker is concerned, we have no idea how much a difference he would make, we can only speculate. Baker would also be dealing with a pitching staff ravaged with injuries. And let's not forget, Baker was the guy that refused to move Jose Abreu down in the batting order, even though he would finish the regular season with the ninth-worst OPS in baseball.
The reality of the situation is managers can only do so much in baseball. Which leads us to something else that needs to be considered. Is Espada being handcuffed by the front office? Espada and GM Dana Brown both said recently that Jon Singleton was going to get more at-bats while they give Abreu time off to try to figure things out. Yet, there Abreu was in the lineup again in the opening game of the Cubs series.
It makes us wonder how much power does Espada truly have? The Astros have some other options at first base. Yainer Diaz may only have eight games played at the position, but how much worse could he be than Abreu defensively? Abreu already has four errors, and Diaz is obviously a way better hitter. Victor Caratini isn't considered a plus offensive player, but his .276 batting average makes him look like Babe Ruth compared to Abreu. Let him catch more often and play Diaz at first. Starting Diaz at first more often could also lengthen his career long-term.
Maybe that's too wild of a move. Okay, fine. How about playing Mauricio Dubon at first base? I understand he doesn't have much experience at that position, but what's the downside of trying him there? If he can play shortstop, he can play first base. He's driving in runs at a higher rate (11 RBIs) than everyone on the team outside of Kyle Tucker and Yordan Alvarez. And he's producing like that as part-time player right now.
The other criticism we see of Espada is his use of Jon Singleton to pinch hit late in games. Let's be real, though, who else does Espada have on the roster to go to? Batting Abreu late in games in which you're trailing should be considered malpractice. Espada can only use who he has to work with. This all really stems from the Astros poor farm system.
They don't have anyone else to turn to. The draft picks the club lost from the sign-stealing scandal are really hurting them right now. First and second rounders from 2020 and 2021 should be helping you in 2024 at the big league level.
Maybe they go to Astros prospect Joey Loperfido soon, but after a hot start he has only two hits in his last six games.
Finally, we have to talk about what seems like a committee making baseball decisions. Lost in a committee is accountability. Who gets the blame for making poor decisions?
As time continues to pass it looks like moving on from former GM James Click was a massive mistake. He's the guy that didn't sign Abreu, but did trade Myles Straw (recently DFA'd) for Yainer Diaz and Phil Maton. He also built an elite bullpen without breaking the bank, and helped the club win a World Series in 2022.
The reality of the situation is Dusty Baker and James Click are not walking back through that door. And all good runs come to an end at some point. Is this what we're witnessing?
Don't miss the video above as we hit on all the points discussed and much more!
Catch Stone Cold 'Stros (an Astros podcast) with Charlie Pallilo, Brandon Strange, and Josh Jordan. We drop two episodes every week on SportsMapHouston's YouTube channel. You can also listen on Apple Podcast, Spotifyor wherever you get your podcasts.