All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' 4-3 loss to the Astros, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
BOX SCORE
HEADLINES
Bullpen falters: Red Sox relievers had a lot of outs to get when starter David Price was forced from the game in the first, and they pitched with mixed results. Colten Brewer gave the Red Sox 2.1 scoreless innings before Travis Lakins took over and retired the first seven hitters he faced from the fourth through the sixth. But he then issued a walk and two singles, the second of which produced the first run of the night for either team. Heath Hembree came in and quickly allowed a single, too, allowing an inherited baserunner to score. Hector Velazquez gave up another in the seventh before a 1-2-3 eighth. Finally, Matt Barnes failed to record an out in the ninth after the Sox had tied the game in the top of the inning, yielding a double and two walks before giving up the game-winning single to right to Carlos Correa.
Sox rally late, but can't finish job: For the second straight night, the Red Sox staged an impressive late-inning comeback. Scoreless over the first six innings before breaking through with a run in the seventh, the Sox hung a blown save on closer Roberto Osuna, his first of the season, in the ninth. In the span of five pitches, the Sox loaded the bases. Christian Vazquez, who homered off Osuna in the ninth on Friday to bring the Sox to within a run, ripped a single into the left field corner, scoring two to tie the game at 3-3. But with runners at the corners and no out, the Sox couldn't produce anything more. Pinch-hitter Steve Pearce took a called third strike, Andrew Benintendi popped foul to third and after a walk to Mookie Betts filled the bases for a second time in the inning, Osuna got Mitch Moreland on a weak tapper down the first base line. For the game, the Sox stranded nine and were a lowly 3-for-14 with runners in scoring position.
Price leaves early: Maybe the ending could have been anticipated, since the night sure didn't begin well for the Red Sox. Starter David Price got a flyout and a strikeout before allowing a single to center to Michael Brantley. It was obvious that Price didn't have the usual juice on his pitches, with the velocity off noticeably on both his slider and his fastball. Alex Cora visited him and, after a brief discussion on the mound, made the decision to lift him. At first, it was assumed that this was all related to Price's balky left elbow, which earlier this month sent him to the IL for two and a half weeks. But it was soon revealed that Price left with flu-like symptoms. In a dugout interview with the Fox crew, Cora revealed that Price had been sick for much of the week, but wanted to give the start a try. Once it became obvious that he was at far from full strength and his pitches were suffering as a result, he was taken out.
TURNING POINT
For the second straight night, the Red Sox squandered opportunities in the early and middle innings. The biggest chance came in the third when the Sox had runners at first and third and only one out and the heart of their order due. But both Moreland and Xander Bogaerts struck out.
ONE UP
Rafael Devers: Devers continues to smoke the ball at the plate. After sitting out the series opener Friday, he returned to the lineup and banged out three hits -- a double and two singles -- to lift his average to .326.
ONE DOWN
Mitch Moreland: The Red Sox' RBI leader missed out on a number of chances to knock in runs. He was 0-for-5 and left a total of six baserunners stranded throughout the night.
QUOTE OF NOTE:
"When AC came out there, I didn't want to come out of the game. He made the decision.'' David Price, who left in the first inning after 15 pitches, suffering from flu-like symptoms.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
- The win was the first for the Astros this season in a game in which they didn't homer. They had been 0-8 in such games.
- Xander Bogaerts saw his streak of reaching base safely in 15 straight games come to an end.
- The Sox record when scoring either three or four runs dropped to 3-11 this season.
- Boston's loss means it will lose a road series for the first time since mid-April, having won their previous four