FINAL: Houston Astros 8, Red Sox 4 - Bullpen Blows 3-1 Lead In Seventh

The Red Sox (61-53) drop the first game of their weekend series against the Houston Astros (60-55), losing 8-4.

Boston would jump out to a 2-1 lead in the second inning, when David Hamilton lined a two out double to left center, driving in Ceddanne Rafaela and Nick Sogard. Sogard would also be the third run for the Sox, scoring from third after Astros pitcher Ronel Blanco attempted to pick off Hamilton at first, but threw the ball away. The Hamilton RBI double was the last Sox hit until the bottom of the seventh, when Jarren Duran singled. The Sox would try to come back down five in the ninth, as Duran scored on a fielder's choice ground out from Rafael Devers.

Tanner Houck had another amazing start, throwing six innings, giving up a run on four hits, striking out one Astro and walking three. Lucas Sims would replace him to start the seventh, and it all went downhill from there. Sims gave up four runs on four hits, a triple, a home run from Jose Altuve, and two singles. Zack Kelly would replace him, giving up three straight singles, allowing the two other Sims' runs to score. Luis Garcia pitched the eighth for Boston, getting a 1-2-3 inning. He gave up a double to Alex Bregman to start the ninth, and Cam Booser would take the mound afterward. He would allow Yordan Alvarez to double, making it 6-3. Then he would give up a two run shot to Yainer Diaz, which made the score 8-3.

My Player of the Game: Tanner Houck - Houck once again gave the Sox the opportunity to win this one, but it was squandered by the bullpen.

Tomorrow's game has a start time of 4:10 p.m.. Probable starters for that one are Spencer Arrighetti (4-10, 5.33 ERA), and the Red Sox starter currently undecided.
                                                                                                                                                                                                                         _______________________________

WHO: Houston Astros (59-55) at Red Sox (61-52)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SERIES TO DATE: 2-5 in 2023
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Tanner Houck (8-8, 3.09 ERA) vs. RHP Ronel Blanco (9-6, 2.98 ERA)
TV/RADIO: NESN, MLB Network, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

Jarren Duran LF
Wilyer Abreu RF
Masataka Yoshida DH
Rafael Devers 3B
Connor Wong C
Dominic Smith 1B
Nick Sogard 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela CF
David Hamilton SS

SP Tanner Houck

OPPONENT

Jose Altuve 2B
Alex Bregman 3B
Yordan Alvarez LF
Yainer Diaz C
Jon Singleton DH
Jeremy Pena SS
Zach Dezenzo 1B
Jake Meyers CF
Mauricio Dubon RF

SP Ronel Blanco

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox have won 3 of their last 4 games...They're 6-3 in their last 9 games after going 2-7 in their first 9 after the All-Star break. The Sox are 39-28 (.582) in their last 67 games, beginning 5/19...They own the AL's best record in that span. At 61-52 (.540), Boston owns the 6th-best record in the AL and 11th best in MLB.

Following yesterday's off day, the Sox will conclude the regular season with 49 games in 52 days. Boston today begins a stretch of 27 games in 27 days, through 9/4 and 37 games in 38 days, through 9/15.

Boston leads MLB in doubles (231) and OPS (.773), while leading the AL in hits (1,036) and AVG (.262). The Sox also rank in MLB's top 5 in triples (T-3rd, 28), OBP (5th, .329), and runs scored (T-5th, 563). Since the All-Star break, BOS leads the Majors in AVG (.298), SLG (.537), OPS (.895), hits (202), total bases (364), doubles (58), and runs scored (tied, 117).

In their last 30 games, since the start of July, the Red Sox have batted .287 with an .855 OPS while scoring 6.07 runs per game (182 total runs). The Sox lead MLB in AVG during that span, while ranking 2nd in OPS and runs scored. Boston has scored 5 or more runs in 21 of those 30 games and recorded 10 or more hits in 19 of those 30.

Boston is scheduled to face a right-handed starting pitcher in all 3 games of the current series vs. HOU. BOS has won each of its last 5 games against righthanded starting pitchers, after losing 4 of its previous 5. The Sox are 19-8 in their last 27 games against righthanded starters, beginning 6/16.

The Sox lead the Majors in 2-out AVG (.263) and OPS (.771)...They've scored 225 runs with 2 outs, tied for 3rd most in MLB (MIL-238, BAL-237). The 9th spot in Boston's lineup has batted .255 (105- for-412) with 34 XBH, 58 RBI, and a .418 SLG...That leads MLB in SLG, ranks T-1st in XBH, and ranks 2nd in hits, AVG, and RBI.

Triston Casas has played in 7 rehab games with Triple-A Worcester, making 4 starts at 1st base and 3 as the DH while batting .286 with an .839 OPS, 4 runs scored, and 4 RBI (8-for-28, 5 2B, 3 BB, HBP).