BSJ Game Report: Astros 7, Red Sox 3 - Boston takes another step back in second straight loss

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

BOX SCORE

HEADLINES

Houck settles in, but Red Sox’ woes continue: Tanner Houck went 5.0 innings, giving up three runs (earned) on four hits, three walks and two strikeouts in his return to the lineup, but the Red Sox couldn't lift him up, falling to the Astros, 7-3, in Houston on Tuesday. Rafael Devers and the defense struggled again, finishing the night with three errors as a team, while Boston's offense sputtered with runners on base once again. Boston was shutout until the top of the eighth when Adam Duvall hit his second home run of the series in as many games before Justin Turner's two-RBI double in the top of the ninth gave way to the 7-3 final. Alex Cora and Alex Verdugo were both ejected, while Wilyer Abreu (2-for-3, R, K, E) made his MLB debut. 

TURNING POINT

Bottom of the seventh: After the Red Sox came up empty with the bases loaded in the top of the sixth and again with two on in the top of the seventh, Houston put the game very much out of reach in the bottom half of the inning Mauricio Llovera couldn’t start what should have been a routine double play, before an error for Abreu added to the fire drill, affording Houston more runners in scoring position. The Astros happily obliged, putting up a four-spot in the inning to extend the lead to 7-0.

ONE UP

Tanner Houck: Houck was solid in his first game in over two months. Did enough to give Boston a chance to win, which is all you can ask for. Had a rocky start in a 31-pitch first inning that saw him give up a two-run tank to Kyle Tucker, but found a groove and took just 38 pitches over the next four frames, allowing just one additional run. Slider was solid, generating six called strikes and whiffs on 10 pitches, per Baseball Savant. Very reliant on his sinker (43.5 percent) and slider (42). Encouraging return, overall. 

TWO ‘MEH’

Adam Duvall: Again the main bright spot of the offense, finishing 2-for-4 with a pair of strikeouts and a solo home run in, but in garbage time. Thought he might have had a better chance to make a play on the Jon Singleton ground-rule double in the bottom of the sixth. 

Wilyer Abreu: Thrown into the fire unexpectedly after Verdugo's ejection, Abreu had a solid day at the plate going 2-for-3 with a double, a run and a strikeout. His throwing error in the bottom of the seventh was costly, airmailing it to home and allowing the runners to advance. Just a case of the kid trying to do too much. 

THREE DOWN

Rafael Devers: Second rough outing in a row for No. 11 at third base, who now appears to be getting in his own way in the field. Couldn't handle the bounce on an Alex Bregman single in the first, even if Bregman would have been safe anyway in all likelihood, before Tucker's blast. Nearly made a great play to end the first inning, but couldn't complete the throw to first. Made some decent plays as the game went on, but the damage was already done. He's now tied for the MLB lead in errors. 

Mauricio Llovera: Hardly good enough in relief, giving up four runs, even if they were unearned, on two hits and a walk with a strikeout. Could have ended the bottom of the seventh, but couldn't start what should have been a routine double play, seemingly forgetting to go to second for a moment before spiking the throw. Just a microcosm of the day in the field, and helped open the floodgates for Houston. 

Offense with RISP: The Sox were just 1-for-10 with runners in scoring position, stranding 10 in all and leaving seven RISP with two outs. They're now 4-for-28 with RISP through the two games in this series. Went down quietly in the top of the sixth and seventh with chances to either get back in the game or perhaps take the lead, down just 3-0 at the time. 

NOTABLE

The Red Sox' 90 errors are the worst in baseball.

Boston fell to 5.0 games out of the Wild Card after Seattle won again in Chicago.

The Sox are now 33-34 against teams at or above .500. 

QUOTE OF NOTE

"First inning was a little rocky but felt like I kind of got in a groove from the second inning on. Need to throw more strikes, but that'll just come with more timing and continuing to work and getting back into the swing of things," Houck told reporters. "Really wasn't worried about pitch count, more just worried about continuing to feel good with the delivery as well as throwing all the pitches."

UP NEXT

Third of the four-game set will be Wednesday night in Houston at 8:10 p.m. ET. LHP Chris Sale (5-3, 4.50 ERA) will make his return to the lineup against RHP Jose Urquidy (2-3, 5.21 ERA).