Final: Boston Red Sox 4, Houston Astros 6 - Red Sox extend losing streak to five games, Crochet allows four earned runs in loss

The Boston Red Sox get swept by the Houston Astros in a 6-4 loss at Daikin Park to extend their losing streak to five games. 

Garrett Crochet made his second start of the season, and Boston's ace was credited as the losing pitcher after allowing a three-run home run to Carlos Correa in a 2-2 game in the fifth inning.

The Red Sox and Astros got on the scoreboard early in the game. After a leadoff hit from Jarren Duran in the first inning, Wilson Contreras drove in the first run of the game with an RBI single up the middle. 

The Astros improved on Boston's early lead by scoring more runs in the first inning against Crochet. Yordan Alvarez and Isaac Parades recorded back-to-back doubles to put Houston on the board.

In the same inning, a costly error by Trevor Story put runners on the corners with one out, resulting in Houston's second run of the inning with an RBI single from Christian Walker.

The Red Sox responded in the next inning by putting multiple runners on base. A double from Connor Wong down the third base line put runners in scoring position, and Duran tied the game with an RBI on a fielder's choice play.

After three consecutive half innings of offense, both Crochet and Astros starter Mike Burrows found their groves on the mound. Neither team recorded a run in their third or fourth innings, keeping the game at 2-2.

But Crochet pitched his worst inning in the fifth, which resulted in the game-defining home run by Correa. Boston's ace put runners on first and second with a single and hit-by-pitch, but he found a way to pick up two outs in the process. In a 2-2 count to Correa, Crochet threw a slider across the bottom half of the strike zone, and Correa connected for a 402-foot home run to Daikin Park's Crawford Boxes, making it a 5-2 for Houston.

Crochet's day on the mound ended after the fifth inning, and the Red Sox struggled to cut Houston's three-run lead, going two consecutive innings without putting a runner on base. The Astros added to their lead in the seventh inning with a solo home run by former Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez. 

Boston scored two runs in the last two innings, as Wilyer Abreu and Roman Anthony both recorded solo home runs, but that was the only significant offense the Red Sox received in the back half of the game.

Despite only getting one less hit than the Astros, the Red Sox struggled to pick up extra base hits and struck out 13 times in the game. Crochet struck out seven batters and allowed six hits and four earned runs in his start. Correa's home run became the big swing that blew the air out of Boston's sail.

The Red Sox will head back to Boston for their home opener against the Padres on Friday. First pitch will be at 2:10 p.m.

_______________________

WHO: Red Sox (1-4) vs Astros (4-2)
WHEN: 2:10 p.m.
WHERE: Daikin Park, Houston
SERIES TO DATE: (0-2), (0-2)
STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Garrett Crochet (1-0, 0.00 ERA) vs. RHP Mike Burrows (0-1, 7.94 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran (L) LF
Trevor Story (R) SS
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Willson Contreras (R) 1B
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Caleb Durbin (R) 3B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF
Isiah Kiner-Falefa (R) 2B
Connor Wong (R) C

SP Garrett Crochet

ASTROS

Jose Altuve (R) 2B
Yordan Alvarez (L) DH
Isaac Paredes (R) 3B
Carlos Correa (R) SS
Christian Walker (R) 1B
Cam Smith (R) RF
Jake Meyers (R) CF
Brice Matthews (R) LF
Christian Vázquez (R) C

SP Mike Burrows

WHAT'S UP

The Boston Red Sox play the final game of their series in Houston with Garrett Crochet on the mound.

Triston Casas has been shut down from hitting because of an intercostal strain on his left side. He has not undergone imaging.

Patrick Sandoval will begin a rehab assignment Sunday. He’s expected to pitch four innings for the Portland Sea Dogs against the Somerset Patriots in New Jersey.