American League Playoffs

Correa leads hit parade as Astros crush Red Sox, take 2-0 series lead

Chris Campise
Oct 6, 2017, 12:13 pm
Carlos Correa's four RBIs help lead the Astros past the Red Sox in Game 2 of the ALDS. Photo by Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Dallas Keuchel bounced back from early trouble in game 2 of the ALDS on Friday, was backed by a huge game from Carlos Correa, and the Astros have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALDS.

Keuchel finished the day with 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, and 7 Ks and Correa drove in four runs in the  8-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.

Correa got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer to give the Astros a 2-0 lead, scoring Jose Altuve who stayed hot by getting a two-out single prior to Correa's home run.

After getting runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the second, the Red Sox cut the lead in half on a one-out RBI single from Jackie Bradley Jr. to make it 2-1. Keuchel fought back and was able to limit the damage to only one run by getting two strikeouts to end the inning.

George Springer extended the Astros' lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to start the bottom of the third, followed by a double by Alex Bregman. Altuve followed with a RBI single to make it 4-1 Astros and end the disappointing day for Drew Pomeranz after recording just six outs. The Astros loaded the bases with no outs against Carson Smith, but David Price entered and was able to get the Red Sox out of the inning, stranding all three runners.

After allowing the run in the second inning, Keuchel locked in and sat down every batter he faced until he walked Hanley Ramirez with two outs in the sixth on his 96th pitch, prompting a call to the bullpen. Chris Devenski recorded the final out of the sixth.

Marwin Gonzalez scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth when Mookie Betts fumbled a throw after catching a Bregman flyout for the second out. The Astros then broke the game open, getting a two-RBI double from Correa, then a RBI single from Gattis to extend their lead to 8-1.

Devenski returned and pitched the seventh, and Luke Gregerson the eighth, both scoreless. Ken Giles allowed a run on a RBI single by Bradley Jr. in the ninth, but still wrapped up the Astros 8-2 win.

Going for the sweep: The series will shift to Fenway Park in Boston for games 3 and 4 (if necessary). Game 3 is slated for Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM Central and can be seen on FS1. Manager A.J. Hinch has not yet named the starter for the Astros, but the Red Sox are expected to send out former-Astro Doug Fister who went 5-9 in the regular season with a 4.88 ERA.

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Houston drops the game to Arizona

D-backs outslug Greinke and Astros to take series opener

Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

With the series win over the Rangers by taking two of three games in the middle of the week, the Astros welcomed the Diamondbacks to Minute Maid Park for a three-game weekend series, Houston's final three regular-season home games. Here is how the opener unfolded:

Final Score: Diamondbacks 6, Astros 3.

Record: 25-26, second in the AL West.

Winning pitcher: Zac Gallen (2-2, 3.00 ERA).

Losing pitcher: Luis Garcia (0-1, 2.53 ERA).

Houston scores first, but Arizona grabs a lead against Greinke

Houston would get on the board first on Friday night, with George Springer reaching base in the bottom of the first on an error, moving to second on a walk, then to third on a single, as the Astros loaded the bases with no out to threaten a big inning. Instead, they would come away with just one run, with Springer taking home on a wild pitch, grabbing the 1-0 lead, but leaving runs on the table.

They doubled their lead in the bottom of the third, getting a two-out RBI-double by Kyle Tucker to make it a 2-0 Houston lead. The D-backs responded in the top of the fourth, getting back-to-back singles to lead off the inning before a three-run homer by Kole Calhoun off of Zack Greinke would put Arizona in front, 3-2. Greinke would finish one more inning before Houston would move to their bullpen, striking out the side to bring his total to nine on the night, making the bad fourth inning the one blemish on his night. His final line: 5.0 IP, 6 H, 3 R, 3 ER, 0 BB, 9 K, 1 HR, 89 P.

Astros tie it, but D-backs take the opener

George Springer would get Greinke off the hook in the bottom of the fifth, leading off the half-inning with a solo bomb to tie the game at 3-3. Luis Garcia was first out of Houston's bullpen and retired Arizona in order for a 1-2-3 inning in the top of the sixth. He returned for the top of the seventh but would allow a leadoff single, RBI-triple, and wild pitch to bring in two runs. He would face two more batters, allowing a double and getting a strikeout, before Dusty Baker would come out to get him, now down 5-3.

Blake Taylor would make his return from the IL after Garcia, getting back-to-back outs to finish the inning. He continued on in the 5-3 game in the top of the eighth, but allowed a one-out solo homer to Calhoun, his second of the night and fourth RBI. That made it a 6-3 D-backs lead, which would go final as Houston would go scoreless after Springer's home run back in the fifth.

Up Next: The middle game of this three-game set will start Saturday at 6:10 PM Central. The pitching matchup will be Luke Weaver (1-7, 6.70 ERA) for Arizona and Cristian Javier (4-2, 3.22 ERA) for Houston.

astros recap astros vs diamondbacks mlb mlb recap zack greinke george springer kyle tucker kole calhoun astros

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