Green Monster Gives New Meaning to Home Field Advantage and Red Sox Tie ALCS

The Boston Red Sox entered Game 2 of the American League Championship Series in a 1-0 deficit to the visiting Houston Astros looking to tie the series before heading to Houston. Boston SP David Price also came into the game looking for his first postseason win as a starting pitcher. His record as a postseason starter was 0-9 and the teams he had represented had lost all ten of his postseason starts during his career.

Red Sox 7, Astros 5

W: Barnes; L: Cole: S: Kimbrel

Series Tied 1-1

Players of the Game: Rafael Devers (2-3, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB); Mookie Betts (2-4, 2 R, 1 RBI, 1 BB)

David Price was not particularly effective on Sunday night, but his team gave him the necessary run support to get a win. However, he was removed from the game by Boston manager Alex Cora after 4.2 IP. He allowed 4 runs on 5 hits with 4 BB and 4 SO. His team ended his streak of winless results in his starts, although he did not earn a victory for tonight’s outing.

Boston opened the scoring in the bottom of the 1st inning with RBI singles by OF Andrew Benintendi scoring OF Mookie Betts, and by INF Rafael Devers driving in Benintendi. Houston answered back in the top of the 2nd on a 2-run double by OF George Springer that plated INF Carlos Correa and C Martín Maldonado. The Astros then took the lead on a 2-run bomb by OF Marwin Gonzalez which plated INF Yuli Gurriel.

The bottom of the 3rd saw a bizarre play off the famous “Green Monster” left field wall at Fenway Park which would become the turning point of the game. Houston ace SP Gerrit Cole, who had struggled mightily throughout the game, loaded the bases with 1 away for OF Jackie Bradley Jr. Bradley hit a double off the Monster in the left field corner which then bounced onto the padding of the side wall, rolling away from left fielder Marwin Gonzalez and allowing three runs to score on the play (INF Xander Bogaerts, INF Steve Pearce and Devers) to give Boston a 5-4 advantage.

There was no further scoring until the bottom of the 7th, when wildness and defensive miscues gave Boston an insurance run. Betts, who had reached on a walk, advanced to second base on a wild strikeout pitch by RP Lance McCullers. He then reached third base on a passed ball by Maldonado. With 2 outs in the inning, Betts scored on another passed ball by Maldonado.

In the bottom of the 8th, Betts doubled to drive in Devers, giving the Red Sox an additional insurance run. RP Craig Kimbrel took the ball in the top of the 9th in a save situation for the Sawx. INF José Altuve hit a 2-out single to plate Springer, reducing the Astros’ deficit to 2 runs, but Kimbrel induced a flyout by OF Alex Bregman to end the game, which ended up being the first victory for any team behind a David Price postseason start in 11 tries.

Tomorrow will be a travel day for the American League teams, but the National League Championship Series between the Milwaukee Brewers and Los Angeles Dodgers will resume in Los Angeles at 7:39 PM ET. The series is tied at 1-1. Probable starters: Chacín (MIL) – 3.50 ERA; Buehler (LAD) – 2.62 ERA.

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