HOUSTON -- Until Wednesday night, Craig Kimbrel had never before recorded a save of more than four outs.
He got six outs in the Red Sox' thrilling 8-6 epic win over the Houston Astros in Game 4 0f the ALCS, and to suggest it was a struggle qualifies as the understatement of the year.
With Chris Sale out of the picture, starter Rick Porcello lifted after just four innings and the rest of the bullpen running on fumes, Kimbrel came in for the eighth with the Sox leading by three runs.
After plunking Alex Bregman with one out, he surrendered a double to George Springer and a run-scoring groundout from Jose Altuve, cutting the lead to two.
He then returned for the ninth, and that's where it got truly hairy. He got a quick infield popup for the first out, then issued three walks sandwiched around a fly ball to the warning track.
That loaded the bases, with the tying run on second and the winning run on first and Alex Bregman, only the hottest hitter in the postseason. Bregman sent a sinking liner to left, Andrew Benintendi committed to a face-first dive at the turf, picked off the ball and secured the most agonizing win imaginable for Kimbrel and the Sox.
"A nice sigh of relief,'' said Kimbrel of his reaction to the game-ending play. "It was a tough inning and it was good to get out of it. I was giving it everything I had and obviously, it wasn't my best, but this is the playoffs and with 27 outs, you've got to get the last one.
"I made it a little exciting the last couple of games. I'm glad we were able to pull off the win.''
Kimbrel hasn't been sharp all postseason. He had a similarly harrowing ninth inning in the ALDS clincher in Yankee Stadium -- again with the tying and winning runs on base -- before escaping there, too. And in Sunday's ALCS Game 2, he was no more effective.
After four appearances this postseason, Kimbrel had thrown four innings, allowed six hits, five earned runs and walked five and hit two.
Alex Cora came out before the Bregman at-bat and reminded his closer to stay focused.
"I'm very happy he let me go after Bregman there,'' said Kimbrel, "and were able to get it done. He had his mind made up that he was going to keep me in and I appreciate that.''
Afterward, Cora was unwavering in his support.
"He's our guy,'' said Cora. "I know people were really anxious. He threw well. I know it didn't look pretty, but we got 27 outs and now we move on.''
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