ALCS GAME 5 AT A GLANCE

Astros-Red Sox Game 5 preview: Win or stay home

Astros-Red Sox Game 5 preview: Win or stay home
Justin Verlander will try to keep the Astros alive. Richard Rodriguez/Getty Images

It's all or nothing now. The Astros now have to achieve a very unlikely feat: beating the best regular-season team in three straight games, two of which would be in Boston, to move on. It starts tonight with Game 5, where they'll have their best chance at a win with ace Justin Verlander on the mound. Be sure to catch our recap of the game after the final pitch:

When: 7 p.m.

Where: Minute Maid.

TV: TBS.

Streaming: TBS App.

Pitching matchup: Justin Verlander vs. David Price.

Series: Red Sox lead 3-1.

The breakdown: It's an elimination game for the Astros. This will be their last game in Houston in the ALCS, and their last time with a normally-rested Verlander on the mound to start. Boston is slated to send out David Price, despite Price warming in the bullpen late in last night's game. It's yet to be determined how long Boston expects Price to stay in the game tonight, but the Astros will try to get him out early like they did in Game 2 where they tagged him with four runs in four and two-thirds innings. For this, and hopefully, the other remaining games that they could force, the key to winning for the Astros will be stifling Boston's hot offense, and getting more done on offense themselves to convert more scoring opportunities and leave fewer runners on base. It's no longer about the series, it's all about these nine innings, and executing to force another game to be able to play again on Saturday.

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 Astros 6, Red Sox 8 Minute Maid Morton (ND) vs. Porcello (ND)
Game 5 Tonight, 7:00 PM Minute Maid Verlander vs. Price
Game 6*  Saturday 10/20, 4:00 PM Boston Cole+ vs. Sale+
Game 7* Sunday 10/21, 6:30 PM Boston TBD vs. TBD

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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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