Round One goes to the Astros.
Facing the team that vanquished them at the end of last season, the Red Sox fell to the Houston Astros, 4-2, Thursday night in the opener of a highly-anticipated series between the two division leaders.
Drew Pomeranz was marginally better than in recent starts with three of the six hits against him of the infield variety. Still, he was able to go just five innings.
In a strange fourth inning, the Astros scored twice adespite just one ball leaving the infield. Tim Federowicz, a former Red Sox farmhand, doubled home J.D. Davis, and Federowicz then scored on a dribbler between first and the mound.
The Sox had tied the game in the third on a two-run double from Xander Bogaerts.
Houston had taken an early 2-0 lead in the first on a walk to Alex Bregman and a homer by Carlos Correa.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Houston Astros
WHEN: 8:10 p.m.
WHERE: Minute Maid Park
WHAT'S UP: This is the first meeting of the season between the Red Sox and Astros, who met in the Division Series last October with the Astros winning in four games. The Sox own the best record in the American League, with the Astros owning the third-best. The Sox are first or second in a host of offensive categories, while the Astros are tops in most pitching categories. Mookie Betts, who was a last-minute scratch Sunday, is out of the lineup for the fifth straight game with what the Red Sox are only labeling "soreness'' in his left side.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Drew Pomeranz (1-2, 6.75) vs. RHP Lance McCullers (6-3, 3.98)
TV/RADIO: NESN/MLB Network; WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
10:08 That's it for Pomeranz, who wasn't great by any stretch of the imagination, but better than in recent starts. Of the six hits against him, three never left the infield. A modest step forward, perhaps.
9:38 Strange decision by the Red Sox to challenge that play at the plate. Davis was, by every angle shown, safe.
9:08 Once again, some slipshod baserunning from Andrew Benintendi. He ran through a stop sign from Carlos Febles at third and was called safe on a bang-bang play at the plate. Under review, the call stood, but that was unnecessary risk taken by Benintendi with one out and the Red Sox' 3-4 hitters due at the plate.
8:57 Jackie Bradley Jr. continues to climb out of the hole he dug for himself with another strong at-bat - a booming double to straightaway center that, judging by his reaction, McCullers thought was hit out. Bradley has hit in six straight games and has five doubles in his last 10 games.
8:33 Ugly collision at first base as J.D. Davis fields a slow-roller from Rafael Devers down the first base line, and gives a slow feed to Lance McCullers at first, who collided with Devers. Both go down for a few minutes, but Devers walks off under his own power and McCullers is taking a few warmup tosses and will remain in the game.
8:25 Some uncomfortable deja vu for the Red Sox, as the team gives up a first-inning home run at Minute Maid Park. Sound familiar, Red Sox fans? In Game 1 0f the 2017 ALDS here, Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve hit back-to-back solo homers off Chris Sale in the first inning en route to an 8-2 win. Tonight, Drew Pomeranz issued a one-out walk to Alex Bregman, and with two outs, allowed a two-run homer to Carlos Correa for a quick 2-0 lead. The pitch was a 91 mph fastball at the top of the zone.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Bogaerts SS
Moreland 1B
Martinez DH
Devers 3B
Holt 2b
Leon C
Bradley CF
Swihart RF
ASTROS
Springer RF
Bregman 3B
Altuve DH
Correa SS
Davis 1B
Gonzalez 2B
Federowicz C
Kemp LF
Marisnick CF
NEWS AND NOTES:
- Still no Mookie Betts (left side soreness) in the Red Sox' lineup, and it sounds as if Friday isn't a guarantee either, since Betts hasn't swung a bat yet as part of his physical work. "He did more baseball activities today,'' reported Alex Cora. "He played catch and he's going to be in the outfield during batting practice. We'll see how reacts and see how he is tomorrow.'' Cora said the Sox weren't considering a DL move for Cora, even with the ability to back-date him. "We feel with the roster we have, we're OK,'' Cora said. "We're flexible enough that we can play Blake (Swihart), we can play J.D. (Martinez), we can play Brock (Holt all in outfield).'' Asked if he expected Betts to return this series, Cora said: "That's the goal.'' Cora said he would "try to stay away from him,'' in Thursday's game.
- Betts wasn't the only one missing from the lineup. About 20 minutes before gametime, Dustin Pedroia was scratched from the starting lineup with left knee soreness. Initially, the Red Sox announced that Swihart would take over at second, but eventually, they moved Holt in from right to second and put Swihart in right.
- There was no further word on Carson Smith, who has seen a number of specialists regarding his shoulder injury.
- Austin Maddox began a rehab assignment at Double A Portland.