HOUSTON - The Red Sox rode the long ball to a comeback win over the Astros, beating up the Houston bullpen to secure a 5-4 victory. The win was the first of the series for the Sox, who snapped a two-game losing streak.
Christian Vazquez tied it with his first homer of the year, a solo shot, and after a walk to Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi clubbed a two-run belt to the second deck in right. Both homers came off Houston reliever Will Harris.
The Astros had taken a 3-2 lead through six, with the big blow coming on a two-run homer by Alex Bregman.
The Sox had scored first on a walk to Benintendi, a wild pitch and a run-scoring single from J.D. Martinez. Martinez singled home Xander Bogaerts in the sixth.
WHO: Red Sox vs. Houston Astros
WHEN: 7:15 p.m.
WHERE: Minute Maid Park
WHAT'S UP: The Astros have won the first two games of the four-game series and can clinch a series win with a victory tonight. Dating back to last fall and including the post-season, the Astros have beaten the Red Sox eight of the last 10 times they've met. In the last 24 hours, the Red Sox have placed two regulars -- outfielder Mookie Betts and second baseman Dustin Pedroia -- on the 10-day DL, further depleting their roster and bench. Tonight represents a huge start for LHP David Price, who has allowed two runs or fewer in each of his last four starts. Price finds himself matched up against Justin Verlander, who has merely been the best starter in the American League this season.
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP David Price (5-4, 4.04) vs. RHP Justin Verlander (7-2, 1.11).
TV/RADIO: Fox; WEEI 93.7 FM
IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:
9:48 On a 1-and-2 pitch, Andrew Benintendi crushes a pitch from Will Harris into the second deck in right to give the Red Sox a 5-3 lead. This game has turned quickly, as the Red Sox, in the span of three batters, went from being down by a run to being up by two.
9:20 Red Sox advance scouts obviously noticed that Verlander is vulnerable when it comes to the running game. Xander Bogaerts stole second earlier this inning for his first steal of the season -- and only his second attempt -- and Martinez, no speed merchant he, also stole second.
9:18 It really is something to watch J.D. Martinez hit. For the second time tonight, he fought off a tough pitch from former teammate Justin Verlander and served it into right-center, scoring a baserunner from second. He now has 50 RBI for the season.
8:53 As often happens with veteran starting pitchers, if you don't get to them early, you run the risk of allowing them to settle into a groove. Verlander gave up a run in the first, but minimized the damage. Since allowing two of the first three hitters to reach base, he's retired 14 of the last 15, with the only baserunner coming on a sharp single to center by Eduardo Nunez in the fourth.
8:40 Two strikeouts in two at-bats for Rafael Devers tonight. That makes him 9-for-59 with 16 strikeouts since May 15. But with Pedroia and Betts both out, Sox have fewer options to sit him, with Brock Holt/Eduardo Nunez needed for second base and right field.
8:18 David Price went inside on Alex Bregman with a cutter in on the hitter's hands for the first pitch of the at-bat. When he tried to go in again, this time a bit more over the plate, Bregman turned on it and hit into the Crawford boxes in left.
7:25 It took 19 innings, but the Red Sox finally claimed a lead in this series. Andrew Benintendi walked, took second on a wild pitch and came around to score on a single to right by J.D. Martinez. The Sox had forged a few ties previously but until the first inning tonight, hadn't let the Astros in the series.
LINEUPS
RED SOX
Benintendi LF
Bogaerts SS
Martinez DH
Moreland 1B
Nunez 2B
Devers 3B
Swihart RF
Vazquez C
Bradley CF
ASTROS
Springer RF
Bregman 3B
Altuve 2B
Correa SS
Gurriel 1B
Gattis DH
Stassi C
Gonzalez LF
Marisnick CF
NEWS AND NOTES:
- For the second time in as many days, the Red Sox lost a starting position player to the disabled list. A day after Mookie Betts (left abdominal strain) was placed on the 10-day DL, second baseman Dustin Pedroia (left knee inflammation) joined him there. Pedroia had been held out of the homestand finale as a precaution, but then, felt discomfort Thursday in the series opener here and again on Friday, keeping him out of the first two games against the Astros. On Saturday morning, the Sox decided to give him time to recover. "I think it's the smart thing to do,'' said Alex Cora. "I know he's a little frustrated. It is what it is. It was major surgery. Hopefully, he comes back sooner rather than later and he'll be (back) out there. Like I said before, I'm going to take care of him anyway. This is not only for now, but for the long run. We have our goals to play in October and we want him to continue to perform at a high level. I think this is very important for him now -- stay away from him and get him ready and have him back soon.'' Cora maintained that the Red Sox hadn't rushed Pedroia back from his rehab schedule after the infielder took part in just five games at Triple A Pawtucket. Cora noted that Pedroia spent several weeks taking part in extended spring training in Fort Myers to get his body ready for competition. "He just didn't bounce back the way he wanted,'' Cora said. The plan is for Pedroia to fly back to Boston tomorrow ahead of the team, get a full day of treatment Monday and then perhaps visit with the doctor who performed the surgery last October in New York.
- The Sox replaced Pedroia on the roster with lefty reliever Bobby Poyner. They could have added infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, already on the 40-man roster, but Cora said he felt comfortable with Brock Holt and Eduardo Nunez as options at second. "Versatility-wise, we're good right now,'' said Cora.