The Red Sox long, divisional nightmare is over. Finally.
After a week that saw them lose four of five games and invite unflattering comparisons to 1978 and 2011, the Red Sox finally took care of business, defeating the Houston Astros, 6-3, to clinch the American League East title for the second straight year.
The win also locked in the Astros as the Red Sox’ first-round opponent in the ALDS, which begins Thursday in Houston.
The Sox broke through in the fifth with a run-scoring single by Hanley Ramirez and a double to left from Rafael Devers. An inning later, they added three more, with Mitch Moreland’s opposite-field double scoring two.
Starter Drew Pomeranz blanked the Astros over the first six innings, but was lifted after allowing a leadoff single. Carson Smith came on, but yielded three straight hits and two runs, forcing the Sox to call upon David Price, who was appearing in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Price was brilliant, getting a groundout and two strikeouts sandwiched around a walk to strand two Houston baserunners.
Mookie Betts provided a cushion when he homered to lead off the seventh
GAME NO.: 161
WHO: Red Sox (92-68) vs Houston Astros (100-60)
WHEN: 1:05
WHERE: Fenway Park
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
TV: FOX
PITCHERS: LHP Drew Pomeranz (16-6, 3.38) vs. RHP Lance McCullers (7-3, 4.01)
BOX SCORE: MLB Gameday
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
- Drew Pomeranz's velocity has ticked back up some this afternoon, which should be encouraging for the Red Sox. In each of his last two outings, Pomeranz saw his four-seamer dip into the high 80s, which raised some red flags for a pitcher closing in on a career-high in innings. Pomeranz maintained that some of this was by design, as he was holding back on some velocity to preserve strength. Of course, the lefty isn't one to light up a radar gun the way teammate Chris Sale does. But as with any pitcher, a drop of even just a few miles an hour can often mean there's less margin for error, so from the Red Sox' viewpoint, today's start is re-assuring.
- Beyond the four losses in the last five games, a couple of Red Sox hitters are cooling at a bad time. Jackie Bradley Jr's struggles at the plate have been well-documented, but Andrew Benintendi is in a funk, too, with two hits in his last 18 at-bats. A lot can change by later next week, with three days off before Game 1 of the ALDS, but for a team that has scuffled to score runs all season, it's a little alarming that a few players are finishing the season in slumps.
- Before the game, John Farrell announced that Price wouldn't be available, having pitched an inning and two-thirds Friday night. But with Carson Smith ineffective in relief of Pomeranz -- allowing hits to all three batters he faced -- Price got warmed up quickly and took over in the seventh, inheriting two baserunners with no outs. This was Price's first time pitching on consecutive days, and he acquitted himself well, getting a groundout, a called strikeout and, after a walk,
- Dustin Pedroia, who's been battling a left knee injury for much of the second half of the season and was on the DL twice, is in the lineup Saturday -- for now. That could change, however, if the field conditions are deemed a threat to his knee. "It's under consideration,'' said John Farrell. "We'll see how the track is once we get started. If we feel like it's too much for him to undertake, we'll adjust. But right now, it's a go.'' UPDATE: Pedroia indeed was scratched because of conditions, with Brock Holt playing second and batting eighth in the order.
- Eduardo Nunez will not play today or Sunday, as the Red Sox exercise some caution with his aggravated right knee. He'll hit in the cage today and the Sox hope they can have some him take some live BP on the field Sunday.
- Farrell committed to having Chris Sale start Sunday if the Red Sox fail to clinch the division Saturday. On the other hand, if the Sox do clinch today, Sale will be sratched with Roenis Elias or Hector Velazquez available to start in his place.