FINAL, ALCS Game 5: Astros 9, Red Sox 1 - Houston blows out Boston again to take 3-2 lead

After slamming their way to a 2-1 series lead, the Red Sox head back to Houston knowing they need to win two games at Minute Maid Park to extend their season after getting drubbed for the second-straight night, 7-1.

Talk about a role reversal. The Red Sox put up 21 runs in Games 2 and 3 while they ran their MLB postseason record for consecutive games with 10-plus hits to six games. Since? The Red Sox totaled three runs and eight hits in the past two games.

The pitching has also let the Red Sox down, especially in relief of Nick Pivetta (Tuesday) and Chris Sale (Wednesday). Boston relievers have combined for 7.2 innings in which they've allowed 18 hits, 13 runs, nine earned runs and seven walks.

On the other side, Framber Valdez allowed just three hits as the Red Sox were frustrated all night.

In the sixth inning and the Astros leading just 1-0, Yordan Alvarez came to the plate with runners on second and third, and one out. Against Chris Sale, Alvarez already homered for the game's only run, and he singled in his second at-bat.

Instead of intentionally walking Alvarez and allowing either Sale (2 Ks at that point) or Ryan Brasier to face Carlos Correa with the bases loaded, Cora stuck with Sale the lefty-on-lefty matchup. It backfired. Sale allowed a two-run double on his 87th pitch and by the end of the frame, the Astros had scored three more runs for a commanding 6-0 lead.

Brasier, by the way, struck out Correa when he relieved Sale 

WHO: Red Sox vs. Houston Astros
WHEN: 5:08 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 14.73) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (0-0, 7.71)
TV/RADIO: FS1; WEEI 93.7 FM
BSJ LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

ASTROS

Altuve 2B
Brantley LF
Bregman 3B
Alvarez DH
Correa SS
Tucker RF
Gurriel 1B
Siri CF
Maldonado C

RED SOX

Hernandez CF
Schwarber 1B
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Martinez DH
Renfroe RF
Verdugo LF
Arroyo 2B
Vazquez C