BSJ Game Report, ALCS Gm. 2: Red Sox 9, Astros 5 - Boston slams its way to home-field advantage

All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' Game 2 win over the Astros, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Red Sox slam their way to home-field advantage: Thanks to another very shaky postseason start by 24-year-old Luis Garcia, who walked three in one-plus innings including one with two outs to load the bases in the opening frame, the Red Sox hit not one (J.D. Martinez, 1st inning) but two (Rafael Devers, 2nd inning) grand slams to jump out to an 8-0 lead that would eventually send them back to Boston with a split to start this ALCS. The Red Sox became the first team in MLB postseason history to record multiple grand slams in a single game. It marks the second game in postseason history to feature multiple grand slams overall, previously done by the Atlanta Braves and Astros in Game 4 of the 2005 NLDS.

"I think when we have this humble approach that we're not trying to do too much, then big things happen," said Alex Cora. "And J.D., that was great to see going the other way. Rafi, not trying to do too much and hitting the grand slam and so on and so on. It's a very good approach right now. We're not getting greedy. Like I said a few days ago, it's not about hitting 30 home runs or driving 100 runs. It's about winning four games against the Astros, so now we got one, and now we go to Fenway."

Garcia injury leads to delay, but Eovaldi unaffected: If anything was going to throw off the Red Sox after jumping out to a big lead, it was the lengthy warmup allowed to Houston reliever Jake Odorizzi when he replaced Garcia in the top of the second for what was termed a knee injury. Because it was an injury, Odorizzi, a career starter, was allowed to take as long as he needed. That would be over 15 minutes and it was quite a production right in the middle of Minute Maid Park. "Obviously, it's probably the worst situation you can come in as a starting pitcher," Odorizzi said. Garcia, who was 11-8 with a 3.48 ERA in the regular season, has made two postseason starts and he has lasted a combined 3.2 innings with an ERA of 24.55.

Eovaldi, as usual, was unnerved by the delay. The big righthander plowed through and gave the Red Sox a solid 5.1 innings, allowing three runs on five hits.

"Just hanging out with (pitching coach Dave Bush)," Cora said when asked what Eovaldi was doing during the delay. "There's nothing he could do. Just sit in there, moving around, stretching. I actually told him, 'Hey, you can take whatever time you want to get ready,' and he is, like, 'No, I'm good.' He treated it like a long inning.

"He's has been a horse for us, he's been amazing, and he went out there and did an amazing job."

En Fuego Hernandez: Kiké Hernandez just keeps going. Ho, hum, 2 for 4 and another home run. Start the roll...

TURNING POINT

Garcia, despite giving off a leadoff double to Kyle Schwarber, was on his way to getting out unscathed after getting Hernandez to line out a great diving play by Chase McCormick and then getting ahead 0-2 on Devers.

But the third baseman fouled off the next pitch at the top of the zone, and then Garcia threw four straight balls to start the ball rolling. Xander Bogaerts struck out, but a five-pitch walk loaded the bases before Martinez unloaded on a 1-0 fastball that was up but outside.

"Credit to the guys before me, to Dugie and Devers, who grinded out really tough at-bats and drew the walks there to give me that chance," Martinez said. "But that situation, the pressure is on him, it's not on me to come through there. It's the first inning. He has bases loaded. I'm trying to tell myself that, trying to stay relaxed and just looking for a pitch so I can just put a barrel on it. He is kind of tough. He creates some unique angles when he pitches. He spins the ball really well. Just trying to see something deep and just put a good swing on it, really."

THREE UP 

J.D. Martinez: His slam seemed to relax the entire roster, and take the air out of Houston.

Rafael Devers: Now has a six-game hitting streak dating back to Game 1 of the ALDS. During that span, he has collected six runs, nine hits, three home runs and 10 RBI. He became the third player in Boston's postseason history to record at least nine hits and 10 RBI across six games in a single season, joining David Ortiz (2004) and John Valentin (1999).

Nate Eovaldi: Considering the weird circumstances, he gave Boston exactly what it needed. 

THREE DOWN

Darwinzon Hernandez: Started the ninth inning of a 9-3 game and after 22 pitches and just 12 strikes, he allowed two solo home runs and Cora was so spooked that he brought in Ryan Brasier for a second-straight day to get the final out.

Hunter Renfroe: Was 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. He's batting .143 in the series with 4 Ks in seven at-bats.

Jose Altuve and Michael Brantley: The top two hitters in the Astros' lineup was a combined 0 for 9 and are now 2 for 17 in the series.

QUOTE OF NOTE

"It's not like it's a fun warmup. You're sitting there pretty much naked in front of the other team." - Odorizzi.

STATISTICALLY SPEAKING

• Since the best-of-seven format was adopted in 1985, the team that has won Game 2 of the ALCS has advanced to the World Series 30 times in 36 series (83%), including 21 of the last 23.
• The Houston Astros are now 2-3 all-time in Game 2 of the ALCS. Following today's loss, the Astros are tied at 1-1 in the ALCS for the third time. In 2019 against the New York Yankees, Houston would go on to win the series, while they lost the 2018 ALCS against the Red Sox when knotted up after two games.
• Following his round-tripper, Martinez has now logged 28 RBI through his first 26 career postseason games, the second-most through a player's first 26 playoff games behind only Hall of Famer Lou Gehrig (32).
• The Red Sox registered 11 hits in their victory tonight, which marks the fifth consecutive game in which Boston tallied 10-or-more hits. That matches the longest such streak in postseason history, previously accomplished by the 2004 Astros; the 2002 Angels; and the 1989 Cubs.

UP NEXT

ALCS Game 3 will be 8:08 p.m. Monday at Fenway Park and will pit Houston RHP Jose Urquidy (8-3, 3.62 ERA regular season) vs. TBD for Boston (Eduardo Rodriguez, likely, or Nick Pivetta top options) on FS1.

Game 4: Tuesday, 8:08 p.m. at Fenway Park, FS1
Game 5: Wednesday, 5:08 p.m. at Fenway Park, FS1
Game 6: Friday, 8:08 p.m. at Minute Maid Park, FS1*
Game 7: Saturday, 8:08 p.m. at Minute Maid Park, FOX & FS1*

*- If necessary.