Houston came through late
Astros use late offensive surge to take ALCS Game 4 and even series with Red Sox
Oct 19, 2021, 11:13 pm
When they needed it most, Houston's offense finally sprung to life in ALCS Game 4 in Boston to even up the series. Photo by Elsa/Getty Images
When they needed it most, Houston's offense finally sprung to life in ALCS Game 4 in Boston to even up the series.
Although not technically an elimination game, down 2-1, and with the knowledge of the lack of success of teams that go down 3-1 in a best-of-seven series, the Astros knew they needed a win in ALCS Game 4 in a big way. Although they would get the first highlight of the night, things shifted back Boston's way until, in the final two innings, Houston would overtake the Red Sox for the crucial win.
Final Score: Astros 9, Red Sox 2
ALCS Series (Best of Seven): tied 2-2
Winning Pitcher: Kendall Graveman
Losing Pitcher: Nathan Eovaldi
Both teams get first-inning homers before runs become scarce
Bregman đŁ!@Astros strike first. pic.twitter.com/CJDnS5yS1K
â MLB (@MLB) October 20, 2021
Houston got what they needed in the top of the first inning to grab the early momentum to shake off the two lopsided losses, courtesy of Alex Bregman. He launched a solo homer with two outs to put the Astros in front 1-0, sending Zack Greinke to the mound with a lead. After two quick outs by Greinke in the bottom of the first, though, Boston would quickly shift things back their way, getting a walk followed by a go-ahead two-run homer to make it 2-1 after the first frame.
Things stayed in a stalemate there into the late innings, and over that span, Houston tried to navigate getting a full game out of their strained bullpen and pitching staff. After getting through the first, Greinke would face just two batters in the second, getting one out while allowing a walk, making it through Boston's lineup one time but only getting four outs from them. Brooks Raley was first out of the Astros' bullpen, getting the final two outs of the second inning.
Javier eats up much-needed innings as the game stays close
While the Astros continued to be stymied at the plate by Nick Pivetta, they handed the ball to Cristian Javier, starting in the bottom of the third, hoping to get a few innings out of him. He did his job well, erasing a walk in the third, stranding a one-out triple in the fourth and a one-out double in the fifth. Javier stayed on the mound for the bottom of the sixth to face one more batter, issuing a walk before Phil Maton would come in and sit down three Boston batters in a row to keep it a one-run game.
Astros roar back to take Game 4 and tie series 2-2
Kendall Graveman took over in the bottom of the seventh, and against the 2-4 hitters in Boston's lineup, was able to get a 1-2-3 inning to keep the score put. On the first pitch of the top of the eighth, Jose Altuve finally gave Houston's offense a spark, drilling it for a game-tying solo homer over the Green Monster to make it 2-2.
.@JoseAltuve27 has 21 HR in the #postseason, the third most ever.
He only trails:
Manny Ramirez, 29
Bernie Williams, 22 pic.twitter.com/b8Atbg2z5O
â MLB Stats (@MLBStats) October 20, 2021
Graveman kept going in the bottom of that inning, getting two outs to make it five in a row sat down before issuing a two-out walk, which he would erase by getting the third out against the next batter as the tied game went to the ninth. Boston opted to bring in Game 2 starter Nathan Eovaldi out of their bullpen in the top of the ninth, and he was met with a leadoff double by Carlos Correa to put the go-ahead run in scoring position.
Still on second after two outs and an intentional walk to Yuli Gurriel, Correa looked to Jason Castro to try and come through and bring him home. He did so, getting an RBI single to give the Astros their first lead since that homer back in the top of the first inning and leaving runners on the corners. Jose Altuve loaded the bases against Eovaldi, working a walk as Boston would move on to another reliever to try and end the threat.
CASTRO THE ASTRO.#ForTheHÂ pic.twitter.com/Hkm0DcByua
â Houston Astros (@astros) October 20, 2021
Instead, Michael Brantley blew it open on the first pitch he saw, getting a bases-clearing double to extend Houston's lead to four runs. He would score as well, as the runs kept coming on RBI singles by Yordan Alvarez and Kyle Tucker and another on an error, making it a seven-run frame and a 9-2 lead. Already warmed up, Ryan Pressly entered in the bottom of the inning to finish things off, and despite a couple of two-out singles, he would wrap up the massive win for Houston.
Up Next: ALCS Game 5 will get started earlier on Wednesday, with a start time of 4:08 PM Central from Fenway Park in Boston. While not confirmed, the expected pitching matchup is a rematch of Game 1 with Chris Sale for the Red Sox going against Framber Valdez for the Astros.
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So where does one turn now in Houston for mediocre, overpriced salsa? I kid, I kid. While wondering if Breggy Baked Beans are on the horizon. Congrats to Alex Bregman and agent Scott Boras for landing an on its face outlandish three-year 120-million dollar contract with the Boston Red Sox. With deferred money part of the deal the contract will be valuated in the neighborhood of âonlyâ three years 90 million. Would Bregman have taken that from the Astros if offered? The Astrosâ six-year 156-million dollar proposal was 26 mil per season. Bregman has the right to opt out after each of the first two seasons of his BoSox deal. If his decline (while still a very good player) of the last two seasons continues, or even if he holds steady, there is near zero chance of Bregman opting out unless he hates life in New England. At the end of the three years, will Bregman be able to land a three-year 66 million-dollar deal when heâs about to turn 34 years old? That plus the 90 mil with deferrals accounted for in his new deal would total 156 million. Massachusetts taxes personal income of just over a million dollars and upward at a nine percent rate. Playing half his games in the Bay State, Bregman will pay Massachusetts tax on half his salary.
Reminders...
Bregman obviously had an excellent Astrosâ career, among non-pitchers he is top 10 all-time, but the excellence was frontloaded. Over Bregmanâs first three big seasons he compiled a .289 batting average and .924 OPS. Elite numbers. Over the five seasons since: .261 and .795. Good, nothing legendary. After his monster MVP runner-up 2019 season (stats aided by the juiced balls of that season) Bregman was on a strong early Hall of Fame track. Now not so much, without some offensive resurgence. Fenway Park should suit Bregman well. Heâll bang singles and doubles off of the Green Monster, though the much higher than Crawford Boxes wall will not goose his home run numbers. In his time with the Astros Bregman mashed at Fenway with a .375 batting average and 1.240 OPS. Thatâs in a statistically not very significant 98 regular season plate appearances.
It is myth that Bregman in the postseason was some relentless hitting machine. He posted phenomenal numbers over seven Division Series batting .333 with an OPS over 1.000. Over 68 American League Championship Series and World Series games: batting average .196, OPS sub-.700.
For his career, Bregmanâs worst month of performance by far has been April (plus any days in March, .737 OPS). In 2024 Bregman was baseball garbage into mid-May. Should a typical slow start happen again, weâll see what the Fenway faithful patience level is. By far, Bregmanâs best batting month has been August (.992 OPS). As it works out, both Astros-Red Sox series are in August this year. First in Boston August 1-3 then in Houston August 11-13.
Who's on third?
Over the last two seasons combined, new Astrosâ third baseman Isaac Paredes has been as good offensively as Bregman. That includes Paredes pretty much stinking for two months in Chicago after being dealt from the Rays to the Cubs. Paredes, who turns 26 years old on Tuesday, was an AL All-Star last season. Bregman, who turns 31 March 30, was last an All-Star in 2019. The defensive drop-off from Bregman to Paredes is a fairly steep one.
There is no question that Bregmanâs official departure weakens the Astros via a domino effect. Had Bregman wound up staying here, Paredes would have shifted to second base with Jose Altuve primarily in left field. Now, 600-plus plate appearances that Bregman would have taken project to be divided among Mauricio Dubon, Ben Gamel, Zach Dezenzo, and others. That projects as a substantial offensive downgrade. The lineup net result of the Astrosâ offseason is negative. Christian Walker and Paredes joining the infield in lieu of Jon Singleton and Bregman is fine. Kyle Tucker out, hodge-podge in in the outfield, oh boy.
Alex Bregman is an unquestioned gamer, leader, and would seem to have the temperament to take well to the more intense baseball environment of Boston relative to that in Houston. Yankee fans should reeeeally love him now!
New beginnings
Considering baseball wasnât invented until more than a century later, the poet Alexander Pope did not have baseball in mind when in 1732 he wrote âHope springs eternal (in the human breast).â It works though. Other than the Chicago White Sox and Colorado Rockies, Major League teams have convened in Florida or Arizona thinking if things break right this could be their year! Iâd probably put the Miami Marlins in with the ChiSox and Rockies. Many Astrosâ fans are strongly disgruntled over the departures of Bregman and Kyle Tucker. This team still has âgruntlementâ potential. The batting order appears Morganna-level (Google as necessary) top heavy, but one through five stacks well versus most other lineups. In the American League only the Mariners, Yankees, and maybe Royals have starting pitching rotations that should rate above the Astrosâ rotation. Let the countdown to Opening Day begin!
Spring training is up and running. Join Brandon Strange, Josh Jordan, and me for the Stone Cold âStros podcast which drops each Monday afternoon, with an additional episode now on Thursday. Click here to catch!
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