Martin Perez pitches gem, Red Sox finally come to life to avoid being swept by Astros

The Red Sox had looked lifeless in their first three games of this week’s road trip, outscored 18-4 by the Astros and looking outmatched at the plate by a legitimate American League contender. But Alex Cora didn’t want to overreact.

“I do believe we’re making a big deal out of three games,” manager Alex Cora said before Thursday’s series finale in Houston.

Then, like a switch, the Red Sox looked more like the team that’s vaulted to the top of the AL over the first two months this season. With a big three-game series against the Yankees, they finally came to life. Martin Perez tossed a gem and the offense got out of its brief rut as the Red Sox avoided a sweep with a 5-1 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park.

Even Cora showed some fire, getting ejected for the second time this season when he argued a loose strike zone that was being called by home plate umpire Lance Barrett in the sixth inning.

It was a much-needed performance on several levels for the Red Sox, who looked disciplined at the plate and more comfortable at the plate. Xander Bogaerts broke an 0-for-24 slump with a big two-run double in the seventh, as the Red Sox’ 3-4-5 hitters of J.D. Martinez, Bogaerts and Rafael Devers — largely silenced by the Astros this series — went 5-for-13 with four doubles.

After being shut down the first three days by Astros starting pitching, the Red Sox had no issues with Jake Odorizzi, who was chased after three innings. The Red Sox jumped on him in the second inning with Devers’ leadoff double and a walk drawn by Hunter Renfroe before Christian Arroyo hit his first home run of the season, a three-run shot to left that put the Red Sox up 3-0 early.

Perez submitted his best start in two years with the Red Sox, throwing 7 2/3 innings and striking out six as he breezed through the Astros’ lineup, one of the best in baseball, in 82 pitches. He looked primed to go the distance but was removed in the eighth after giving up a single and a walk. But it was still one of the Red Sox’ best starts of the season, as Perez became their first starter to pitch into the eighth this year.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3uRZFBQ