ALCS GAME 3: RED SOX 8, ASTROS 2
Red Sox feast on Houston's bullpen, win 8-2 in Game 3 to take 2-1 ALCS lead
Oct 16, 2018, 8:06 pm
Roberto Osuna gave up a grand slam to blow the game open for Boston. Bob Levey/Getty Images
Being back in the confines of their home park was not enough for the Astros on Tuesday night, with the offense suffering a stagnant night and an implosion by the bullpen allowing the Red Sox to get an 8-2 victory and go up 2-1 in the ALCS.
Dallas Keuchel bounced back from a bad first inning, but it would be the bullpen that allowed Boston to take the game on Tuesday, with Joe Smith allowing a go-ahead solo home run in the sixth, then Roberto Osuna having a meltdown in the eighth and allowing five runs including a grand slam which put the game out of reach.
Boston came out swinging in the top of the first inning, getting back-to-back singles off of Keuchel to start the game. J.D. Martinez put Boston on top next with an RBI-double to make it 1-0 with no outs. An RBI-groundout allowed Boston to score another with the Astros seceding a run in place of the first out, but that moved Martinez to third, though Keuchel would get a groundout and lineout leave him stranded there and limit the damage to a 2-0 deficit. Jose Altuve gave Houston their first hit of the day with a one-out single in the bottom of the inning, followed by Alex Bregman who made it back-to-back singles. A groundball from Yuli Gurriel forced Bregman out at second but left runners on the corners which set up Marwin Gonzalez for an RBI-single to trim the lead to 2-1 before Nathan Eovaldi was able to end the inning.
Keuchel had a much better top of the second, getting Boston in order on a couple of fly outs and a groundout. Eovaldi had a similarly effective inning, getting through the bottom of the Astros order 1-2-3.
In the top of the third, Keuchel was able to get two quick outs before issuing two walks to give Boston another scoring threat, but Tony Kemp saved a couple of runs with an amazing leaping catch against the left-field scoreboard for the final out. George Springer led off the bottom of the inning with a single through the infield shift but would be out at second on a fielder's choice for the first out. Bregman worked a walk next to put runners on first and second, then both moved up a bag on a groundout, but would be stranded there with Eovaldi getting a flyout to end the inning.
Keuchel allowed an infield single to start the top of the fourth but was able to erase it with two fly outs and a groundout. Eovaldi, in the bottom of the inning, was able to put the Astros down in order on just nine pitches.
Continuing to distance himself from the bad first inning, Keuchel was able to get three vintage groundouts to get the top of Boston's order in a three up, three down top of the fifth. Jose Altuve came back from a 0-2 count to work a two-out walk in the bottom of the inning, then came all the way around to score and tie the game on an RBI double by Alex Bregman that could've been a groundout but instead made it past Rafael Devers at third base for Boston. Eovaldi would leave Bregman stranded on second to end the inning and send the 2-2 game to the sixth.
Houston went to their bullpen in the top of the sixth, bringing in Joe Smith who was only able to get one out before Boston took the lead back on a solo home run by Steve Pearce, making it 3-2. Tony Sipp came in next and worked around a walk to end the half-inning. Boston left Eovaldi in the game in the bottom of the inning, and he was able to work around a two-out infield single by Carlos Correa by getting a flyout to end the inning.
Ryan Pressly was next out of the Astros bullpen for the top of the seventh, and with a little defensive help from a great barehanded play by Alex Bregman, was able to get a 1-2-3 inning including a couple of big strikeouts. Boston finally made the move to their bullpen in the bottom of the inning, bringing in Ryan Brasier who got two quick outs before a perfect bunt-single by Altuve to get a runner on for Bregman, but Bregman would fly out to end the inning.
Trying to keep it a one-run game, Houston went to closer Roberto Osuna in the top of the eighth to face the middle of Boston's order but he fell apart and loaded the bases by hitting a batter with two outs, then hit another batter to give Boston a bigger lead at 4-2. With the bases still loaded, Osuna left a fastball in the zone for Jackie Bradley Jr. who blew the game open with a grand slam to make it an 8-2 game. Collin McHugh came in for the final out of the inning. Matt Barnes was next on the mound for Boston in the bottom of the eighth and got a couple of outs before the Red Sox went to Joe Kelly who ended the inning.
Hector Rondon took over in the top of the ninth and was able to keep the Red Sox from inflicting any more damage to send things to the bottom of the inning. Eduardo Rodriguez was the final reliever of the night for Boston, who closed out the game and the big win.
Game 4: The Astros will have to shrug today's loss off quick and try to tie the series back up tomorrow. First pitch is scheduled for 7:39 PM Wednesday night and the game can be seen on TBS. We'll get another matchup of starters from the backend of both rotations, with Charlie Morton taking the bump for the Astros while the Red Sox send out Rick Porcello. Morton will be heavily rested, which will hopefully translate to a strong pitching performance to stop the recent success of Boston's offense. The Astros will need the offense to show up tomorrow and get a win to turn the ALCS into a best-of-3.
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In Houston, the winning standard has been set so high that anything short of World Series contention now feels like failure. And yet, the 2025 Astros find themselves at an unfamiliar crossroads—caught between the fading brilliance of past stars and the uncertain promise of what comes next.
Jose Altuve is at the center of this issue. His early struggles (-0.5 WAR) may indicate more than just a temporary slump. And when he swung at the first pitch after Lance McCullers had just endured a grueling 33-pitch inning on Sunday, it raised a bigger question: who has the influence to talk to Altuve?
The Astros’ culture has long been praised for its accountability, but who inside the clubhouse has the standing to challenge or counsel Altuve or other vets when needed? With so many veteran voices gone, there’s a growing sense that no one does—and that’s a problem. That’s why the idea of bringing back Michael Brantley—not as a player, but as a respected voice—could make some sense. Brantley was always viewed as a quiet leader, and his presence could restore some of the guidance this roster desperately needs.
Batter up?
While the Astros have built a reputation for reviving pitchers' careers, their track record with hitters is far less impressive. There are few, if any, examples of a bat joining Houston and unlocking a new level. That failure in development becomes especially stark when considering how much they’re currently leaning on homegrown youth.
Which brings us to Zach Dezenzo. The 24-year-old rookie is showing he belongs—his .737 OPS makes him one of the more productive bats in a lineup that desperately needs stability while Yordan Alvarez nurses an injury. While Victor Caratini provides the Astros with the ability to switch hit, he's hitting just .217. Dezenzo should be starting every day in left, with Yordan out. Jose Altuve, who has already played too many innings this year, should be shifted to DH duties to ease his physical burden. The Astros should go with Cam Smith in right and keep Jake Meyers in center to round out the outfield.
GM Dana Brown has made clear that he views Dezenzo as a first baseman or left fielder for the future. So why not get him in the lineup while Yordan's out and see what he can do with consistent playing time?
Of course, losing Yordan Alvarez is always going to hurt. But the numbers tell a surprising story. Yordan currently holds a -0.4 WAR, right there alongside Altuve and Christian Walker as the only Astros with negative marks. On paper, the team hasn’t lost much production. But let’s not kid ourselves—Yordan’s mere presence alters how opponents pitch to this team. The lineup without him lacks fear factor, and the margins get razor-thin.
Speaking of margins, one move that may haunt this front office is the decision to sign Christian Walker. The veteran first baseman is hitting just .205 with a .617 OPS—far below the level expected from a player earning $20 million annually through 2027. Compare that to Jon Singleton, who posted better numbers in 2024 and currently boasts an .880 OPS in Triple-A with the Mets organization. Walker's defense is strong, but it's hard to argue that justifies the price tag. Singleton might not be a Gold Glover, or anything close, but he came much cheaper and was quietly more productive with the bat.
No regrets?
There’s also a broader question looming: if fans had known that Altuve’s massive contract extension would potentially cost the team the ability to re-sign current MVP candidates Kyle Tucker and Alex Bregman, would they still have supported the deal? Hindsight is cruel, but with Altuve’s decline and Tucker and Bregman thriving, it’s a fair debate. Houston might have paid for the past instead of securing its future.
Big deals on the horizon?
All eyes now turn to owner Jim Crane. This winter, Houston's payroll will have considerable room to maneuver. But will Crane commit to restocking the lineup with All-Star-caliber bats, or will his reluctance to offer long-term deals keep the Astros stuck in a holding pattern? It’s one thing to let players walk. It’s another to fail to replace them.
The Astros still have the bones of a contender, but the road back to dominance is getting steeper. The team can’t simply rely on what used to work. It’s time for difficult conversations, bold lineup changes, and a rethinking of how this organization develops—and retains—offensive talent.
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