ALCS GAME 4 AT A GLANCE

Astros-Red Sox Game 4 Preview: Time to right the ship

Astros-Red Sox Game 4 Preview: Time to right the ship
Charlie Morton gets the ball tonight in a must-win. Houston Astros/Facebook
   

With their backs being pushed closer and closer to the wall, Game 4 is an important one for the Astros. They'll get the chance to tie the series up tonight and make it a best-of-3. Check our recap right after the final pitch for the highlights of the game:


When: 7:30 p.m.

Where: Minute Maid.

TV: TBS.

Streaming: TBS App.

Pitching matchup: Charlie Morton vs. Rick Porcello.

Series: Red Sox lead 2-1.

The breakdown: The Astros will have to flip the momentum from the last two games to hold the Red Sox down in tonight's game long enough to build a lead they can hold on to. The best way they can accomplish that is by taking advantage of the pitching matchup. Charlie Morton, who will take the mound for the Astros, will be coming off an extended period of rest, his last in-game action coming in a tune-up start to finish the regular season on Sept. 30. Rick Porcello will be starting for Boston, and he, on the other hand, has already seen his fair share of the 2018 postseason with one five-inning start against the Yankees in their ALDS-clinching Game 4 win, and two relief appearances, most recently on Sunday where he threw a scoreless frame. Look for the Astros to try and manufacture some early runs to put stress on Porcello and get to the Red Sox bullpen early, meanwhile giving Morton some run support to go deep into the game to limit innings from their own relievers. 

Series schedule:

  Result / Date & Time Location Pitching matchup
Game 1 Astros 7, Red Sox 2 Boston Verlander (W) vs. Sale (ND)
Game 2 Astros 5, Red Sox 7 Boston Cole (L) vs. Price (ND)
Game 3 Astros 2, Red Sox 8 Minute Maid Keuchel (ND) vs. Eovaldi (W)
Game 4 Tonight, 7:30 PM Minute Maid Morton vs. Porcello
Game 5 Thursday 10/18, 7:00 PM Minute Maid Verlander+ vs. TBD
Game 6* Saturday 10/20, 4:00 PM Boston Cole+ vs. TBD
Game 7* Sunday 10/21, 6:30 PM Boston TBD vs. TBD

* Games 6-7 are if necessary.
+-projected starters.

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Astros' offense sputters in shutout loss to Angels

The Angels beat the Astros, 4-1. Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images.

Oswald Peraza hit a two-run single in the ninth inning to help the Los Angeles Angels snap a three-game losing skid by beating the Houston Astros 4-1 on Saturday night.

Peraza entered the game as a defensive replacement in the seventh inning and hit a bases-loaded fly ball to deep right field that eluded the outstretched glove of Cam Smith. It was the fourth straight hit off Astros closer Bryan Abreu (3-4), who had not allowed a run in his previous 12 appearances.

The Angels third run of the ninth inning scored when Mike Trout walked with the bases loaded.

Kyle Hendricks allowed one run while scattering seven hits over six innings. He held the Astros to 1 for 8 with runners in scoring position, the one hit coming on Jesús Sánchez’s third-inning infield single that scored Jeremy Peña.

Reid Detmers worked around a leadoff walk to keep the Astros scoreless in the seventh, and José Fermin (3-2) retired the side in order in the eighth before Kenley Jansen worked a scoreless ninth to earn his 24th save.

Houston’s Spencer Arrighetti struck out a season-high eight batters over 6 1/3 innings. The only hit he allowed was Zach Neto’s third-inning solo home run.

Yordan Alvarez had two hits for the Astros, who remained three games ahead of Seattle for first place in the AL West.

Key moment

Peraza’s two-run single to deep right field that broke a 1-1 tie in the ninth.

Key Stat

Opponents were 5 for 44 against Abreu in August before he allowed four straight hits in the ninth.

Up next

Astros RHP Hunter Brown (10-6, 2.37 ERA) faces RHP José Soriano (9-9, 3.85) when the series continues Sunday.

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