Final: Red Sox 10, Astros 3

It sure didn’t start well.

The Red Sox found themselves trailing 3-0 in the top of the first, inching closer to elimination and the end of their season.

But starting in the second inning, the team underwent an offensive awakening, took its first lead of the series in the third and went on to score 10 unanswered runs to post a 10-3 thrashing of the Houston Astros in the ALDS.

Houston still leads the series two games to one with Game 4 set for Monday at Fenway.

The Sox got their first homers of the series from Rafael Devers (two-run shot in the third) and Jackie Bradley Jr. (three-run shot in the seventh) and seven hits combined from Mitch Moreland and Hanley Ramirez.  Ramirez had three RBI.

David Price continued his strong relief work, pitching four scoreless innings from the fourth through the seventh.

GAME NO.: ALDS Game 3
WHO: Red Sox (0-2) vs Houston Astros (2-0)
WHEN:  2:38 EST
WHERE:  Fenway Park
RADIO: WEEI (93.7 FM)
TV: FS1
PITCHERS:  RHP Doug Fister (5-9, 4.88) vs. RHP Brad Peacoack (13-2, 3.00)
BOX SCORE:    MLB Gameday

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:

• Think about what a swing two plays in right field have been -- Mookie Betts makes one and Josh Reddick doesn't. In the second inning, with two on, Betts ran over 100 feet to the warning track and laid his glove out to catch a ball hit by Reddick that was headed for the first row of the right field box seats. That catch saved a three-run homer. Meanwhile, in the bottom of the seventh, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a fly ball down the right field line that Reddick tracked, got his glove on...and promptly deflected into the seats beyond the right field foul pole for a three-run homer. Two plays, six runs at stake - the Sox get three, the Astros none.


• In some ways, that at-bat by Rafael Devers was more impressive than the one he had in the third when he powered a slider into the bleachers behind the Red Sox bullpen. Facing Chris Devenski, Devers reached out and poked a changeup on the outer half of the plate and dropped it into left field for a run-scoring single. Nice piece of hitting for a 20-year-old making his post-season debut.


• Mitch Moreland, who has a ton of playoff experience from his prior time with Texas, has quietly had a nice series, with three hits today -- including a double. He's 4-for-9 with a walk and some hard outs over the first three games.


• Credit, too, to Houston's Lance McCullers, who, like Price, battled some injuries and got moved to the bullpen for the post-season. McCullers gave the Astros three-plus innings and allowed three hits while striking out four. He did leave two baserunners on for Chris Devenski, but he kept the Sox within striking distance.


• I can't say for sure that those were the four best innings Price has pitched since joining the Red Sox. He did, after all, allow a hit in every inning he pitched. But those were certainly the most important innings Price has thrown since signing here, helping the Sox get from the start of the fourth through the middle of the seventh, protecting the one-run lead he was given


• Price is once again able to command a variety of pitches. In that last at-bat with Marwin Gonzalez, he incorporated his two-seamer, his cutter and changeup -- and got swings and misses on all three.


• Home plate umpire Ted Barrett has been only marginally better than his colleague Angel Hernandez was in Game 2. More than a few pitches being missed, changing at-bats dramatically. Again, it's hard to believe that MLB uses a merit system in the post-season.


• For the first time this post-season, David Price is being utilized in a role that the Sox forecast for him this post-season -- bridging the middle innings, with a lead. Price pitched well Friday in Game 2, but by then, the Sox were already down by three. This afternoon, his value is greater. Sox might want to get three full from him if he can manage his pitch count effectively.


• Thanks the homer by Devers, the Red Sox grabbed their first lead after a full inning in this entire series. Up to that point, they hadn't even finished a full inning tied on the scoreboard. Amazing. (They were briefly tied 2-2 after the top of the fourth in Game 1, but Houston quickly changed that when they scored twice in the bottom of the inning).


• Rafael Devers's raw power was on display in that third-inning. He stayed on a slider -- from a lefty, Francisco Liriano, no less -- and drilled a two-run homer over the Sox' bullpen. That was also the first homer of the series for the Red Sox.


• A.J. Hinch with a pretty quick hook of starter Jake Peacock. For a guy leading 2-0 in the series and up by a run in this game, he's taking no chances.


• There's a lot of competition for this "honor,'' but I'd say Andrew Benintendi has been the most disappointing hitter in this Red Sox lineup. Slotted at No. 3 in the order, he's 1-for-10 - with his only hit a single -- and three strikeouts. He's given the Sox nothing at the plate.


• Some rare early-game offensive momentum for the Red Sox here, with the bases loaded, one run in and no out. This is, it goes without saying, a huge opportunity to get back into this one and get the crowd on their side.


• Nice catch by Mookie Betts, who reached in to the first row of seats in right field to take a three-run homer away from Josh Reddick. Maybe that means something when this one is over; maybe it doesn't.  But impressive nonetheless.


• In the last two playoff games, Red Sox starters have combined to record 10 outs. Combined. Ten.


• Can't think Fister is going to be left in much longer. Five of the first eight hitters have reached against him and it's been mostly hard contact. Joe Kelly is warming. Beyond the good swings Houston is getting, Fister isn't commanding, having thrown an almost 50-50 mix of balls and strikes.


• The beatings continue. For the third straight game, the Astros score multiple runs in the first inning. Carlos Correa hammers a hanging curveball from Doug Fister into the center field bleachers. It's quickly 3-0 Houston and the boos are raining down on the Red Sox in their first home playoff game.


• And so, for the third straight time in this ALDS, Houston scores first. Run-scoring single by Josh Reddick scores George Springer (single, wild pitch).

• John Farrell said Sunday morning that he has everyone available out of the bullpen for Game 3, but for obvious reasons, hopes to stay away from both Rick Porcello (likely Game 4 starter) and Chris Sale (Game 5). But if needed, they, too, can go Sunday afternoon. 'At this point, everyone is on the table,'' said Farrell. "But it would certainly be our preference to stay about from Chris and Rick.''


• Farrell was asked about his job security should the Sox lose today. "My focus has always been on what our guys need and how we go about today's game. (Speculation) hasn't changed my approach with our guys at all.''