Final: Astros 7, Red Sox 4 - Astros complete sweep after Crawford struggles early on for Boston

The Red Sox fell 7-4 to the Houston Astros, who picked up the series sweep with the win in the series finale. With the loss, Boston falls to 7.0 games behind the Rangers for the final AL Wild Card spot. The Sox finish August at 13-15 after losing four straight and seven of 10, including a 1-5 homestand. Kutter Crawford made it through just 2.2 innings, surrendering six earned runs on seven hits as Houston opened up an early lead with three-run spots in the second and third innings. Triston Casas went 3-for-4 with a run for Boston. Michael Brantley went 2-for-4 with a pair of RBI and a run for Houston. Alex Bregman was 2-for-5 with an RBI and a run. Martin Maldonado was 2-for-3 with an RBI and a walk, and Jeremy Peña was 2-for-4 with two runs and an RBI. 

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WHO: Astros (76-59) vs. Red Sox (69-64)
WHEN: 4:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE: Houston leads, 2-0. Also season series, 4-2
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Kutter Crawford (6-6, 3.65) vs. LHP Framber Valdez (9-9, 3.40)
TV/RADIO: NESN, ESPN+, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUP

RED SOX 

1. Ceddanne Rafaela SS
2. Justin Turner DH
3. Rafael Devers 3B
4. Adam Duvall CF
5. Rob Refsnyder LF
6. Alex Verdugo RF
7. Luis Urias 2B
8. Triston Casas 1B
9. Connor Wong C

SP Kutter Crawford

ASTROS 

1. Jose Altuve 2B
2. Alex Bregman 3B
3. Yordan Alvarez LF
4. Kyle Tucker RF
5. Chas McCormick CF
6. Michael Brantley DH
7. Jon Singleton 1B
8. Jeremy Peña SS
9. Martin Maldonado C

SP Framber Valdez

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox are in danger of a sweep following Tuesday's 6-2 loss at Fenway. 

They now stare down a 6.5-game hole behind the Astros for the final AL Wild Card spot. Boston is 1-4 on the homestand, dropping three straight and six of nine as well as falling to 13-14 in August. 

Crawford struck out seven in five innings of work, giving up two runs on four hits against the Dodgers on Friday. Wednesday marks just his second appearance and start against Houston. He is 1-0 after giving up one run on seven hits with one walk and six strikeouts in 6.0 innings in his previous outing against the Astros.

Valdez is coming off seven no-hit innings, striking out six and walking five, in what wound up being a 4-1 loss at Detroit last time out. In his previous four games (two starts) against the Red Sox, he is 2-1 with a 1.59 ERA across 17.0 innings, giving up 15 runs (12 earned) on 13 hits combined. 

Rafaela will make his first start of his career, playing shortstop. He made his debut on Monday, entering the game at center field in the top of the eighth inning before recording his first MLB hit in his first at-bat.