Boston leads the series 2-1

Astros slammed again by Red Sox as Boston takes series lead with ALCS Game 3 win

Chris Campise
Oct 18, 2021, 9:28 pm
Jose Urquidy's rough outing was ill-timed for the Astros in ALCS Game 3. Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images

"It's just a rough couple of games, it's nothing to worry about" is a common outlook on two bad games in the regular season. Throughout a 162-game stretch, it's a sentiment that teams can use without too much worry on occasion. In a best-of-seven, however, two bad games can be the last straw that ends your season.

For the Astros, after a rough Game 2 that was doomed after the first two innings, they would watch as Boston duplicated their early-game success to jump out to an insurmountable lead in Game 4 to take a 2-1 series lead in Boston.

Final Score: Red Sox 12, Astros 3

ALCS Series (Best of Seven): Boston leads 2-1

Winning Pitcher: Eduardo Rodriguez

Losing Pitcher: Jose Urquidy

Boston continues to slam Houston's starters in Game 3

If the demoralizing start to ALCS Game 2 for Houston wasn't bad enough, where they allowed two grand slams in the first two innings to the Red Sox, things started just as terrible for the Astros in Game 3 in Boston. Hoping to get some length from their starter for a change in this series, Jose Urquidy looked good in the bottom of the first, getting a 1-2-3 frame on just eleven pitches to start his night.

Things went downhill fast in the bottom of the second, though, as Urquidy would load the bases on two walks and a double as his command started failing. An RBI single started the scoring, followed by a groundball mishandled by Jose Altuve which, doubled the new deficit to 2-0. That brought Kyle Schwarber to the plate, and he blew the game open with a grand slam, Boston's third in the last two games, to make it a daunting 6-0 score.

Urquidy would get another out but allowed two more singles as he would make an early exit like the other two starters so far in this series. Yimi Garcia came in to wrap up the second, then got banged around in the bottom of the third, allowing a one-out walk, RBI single, and two-run home, extending Boston's advantage to 9-0 and continuing to diminish Houston's optimism for this game and potentially the series.

Astros try to build some momentum

The Astros had no choice but to try and start building momentum, whether in an attempt at an improbable comeback in Game 3 or to give them something with which to start Game 4 on a positive note. After two singles in the top of the fourth, Kyle Tucker would get Houston's first highlight of the night and first runs, getting a three-run homer to cut the lead back to six runs at 9-3.

Red Sox take Game 3 and series lead

Blake Taylor was the next reliever out of the Astros' bullpen, and he was able to work around a single and walk for a scoreless fourth. Brooks Raley had the fifth, and he sat down the three batters he faced in order, sending the game to the sixth. He stayed in the game for the bottom of the sixth, but after a walk and two outs would be lifted for Phil Maton, who would give up the tenth and eleventh runs on a two-run homer to J.D. Martinez, pushing the lead back to eight runs at 11-3.

Maton finished the sixth, then continued in the seventh, and had a 1-2-3 inning that frame. In the bottom of the eighth, Ryne Stanek was Houston's next reliever, but too would not be immune to the long ball, as Rafael Devers would pour salt in the wound with a solo homer to make it 12-3. The Red Sox put an end to things in the top of the ninth, taking a significant 2-1 advantage in the series, leaving the Astros in dire need of a win in Tuesday's Game 4.

Up Next: Game 4 of this ALCS will get started at the same time as Game 3 did, with first pitch scheduled for 7:08 PM Central from Boston. While the starting pitching matchup is still TBD, the common belief is that Nick Pivetta will get the nod for Boston, while the Astros figure to put Zack Greinke back into a starting role with their recent blows to starter depth.

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CORREA WATCH

Let's discuss what the lockout means for Carlos Correa, Astros

There's nothing left to do, but wait. Composite image by Jack Brame.

For the first time in nearly a quarter-century, Major League Baseball has entered into a lockout in which team officials and players cannot communicate with each other until both sides are “satisfied” and have come to an agreement on labor negotiations.

Before December 1st, MLB free agents were being signed left and right with teams like the Rangers spending over half a billion dollars on players that include Kole Calhoun, Jon Grey, Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.

Other teams that opened their wallets this offseason were the Mariners, Mets and Tigers.

Baseball free agency came to a screeching halt once the December 1st MLB CBA ended. As of right now, players can't sign with any team until the lockout has concluded.

Now that Major League Baseball has entered this work stoppage, the question on everyone’s mind is what does this mean for the sport going forward?

The short answer is no one knows. This process will take some time and most owners have a wait and see approach in regard to this stoppage. Labor negations can be a long, meticulous process that could drag out for weeks, if not months.

MLB Commissioner Rob Manfred seemed optimistic that a deal should get done between both the owners and the MLB Player’s Association sometime before the 2022 regular season starts.

"We believe that an offseason lockout is the best mechanism to protect the 2022 season," Manfred wrote in a letter to fans. "We hope that the lockout will jumpstart the negotiations and get us to an agreement that will allow the season to start on time. This defensive lockout was necessary because the players' association’s vision for Major League Baseball would threaten the ability of most teams to be competitive."

That being said, it may be some time before any deal is made between either side, thus leaving certain free agents in a temporary limbo like Carlos Correa.

The 27-year-old shortstop looked to be the most coveted player available this offseason and would earn a major payday. Just like his fellow shortstops, Correa was looking to earn a deal similar to that of Manny Machado, Fernando Tatis Jr. and the Francisco Lindor. All of whom signed deals or extension’s of at least 10-year $300 million dollars or higher.

The aforementioned Seager signed a 10-year deal worth $325 million with the Texas Rangers two days before the current CBA ended. Correa was looking to earn a deal similar to this, and the Rangers were one of the team’s that looked to obtain the All-Star shortstop.

Another club that had been linked to Correa was the Tigers, but they just signed free agent short stop Javier Baez to a six-year $140 million contract.

With both Texas and Detroit out of the Correa sweepstakes presumably, where would the 27-year-old land?

We won’t know for some time due to the ongoing lockout negotiations, but as soon as there’s an agreement, Correa will sign somewhere and get his money.

According to Bleacher Report, the Gold Glove winning shortstop has drawn interest from the Chicago Cubs, New York Yankees, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves and Los Angeles Dodgers.

All of these clubs are big market teams who are not afraid to spend large sums of money in free agency.

As much as Astros fans would hate to see their beloved shortstop don Yankee pinstripes or wear Dodgers Blue, it seems to be more of a reality Correa won’t be wearing an Astros uniform next season.

Is it possible for Houston to keep Carlos Correa?

Sure, if James Click and the Astros’ front office do something they have never done before and give him an extension of more than $300 million.

The largest contract Houston has ever given out was a 5-year $151 million extension to Jose Altuve.

If they wish to keep Correa, the Astros would have to give him at least a deal similar to what Seager just received in Texas, therefore doubling their largest contract ever given out.

It is not out of the realm of possibilities to believe Houston could accomplish this feat, but it seems unlikely.

A lockout might prolong Correa’s free agency, but once clubs are able to sign again, the All-Star shortstop could sign quicker than we think.

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