Red Sox make playoff history with two grand slams, crush Astros in Game 2 to even ALCS

HOUSTON — Rafael Devers stood in the batter’s box, his bat still in his hands as he watched the ball he hit sail down the right field line. He was making sure the ball stayed fair, but he couldn’t be blamed if he was admiring it, too.

When the ball finally landed in the area behind the foul pole, Devers flipped his bat across home plate toward the Red Sox’ dugout. He had made history, and the Red Sox were well on their way to evening the American League Championship Series.

In Game 1, the Red Sox’ bullpen blew a late lead, but missed opportunities at the plate were more to blame. They didn’t let that theme repeat itself in Game 2.

And they didn’t waste any time in doing so. J.D. Martinez hit a grand slam in the first inning, and Devers followed with a grand slam of his own in the second inning — marking the first time in postseason history that a team has hit two grand slams in the same game — and the Red Sox didn’t look back.

As in the Division Series, when they lost Game 1 to the Rays before riding an offensive power surge to a Game 2 victory, the Red Sox carried their two grand slams to a 9-5 win over the Astros at Minute Maid Park, tying the best-of-seven ALCS at one game a piece as the series shifts back to Boston for three games at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox continued to be resilient in the postseason under Alex Cora, who has still never lost back-to-back playoff games as the manager. He’s 16-5 in the playoffs.

It was clear Game 2 would be different from the jump. On Friday night, the Red Sox failed to score with the bases loaded, and though they took the lead, the missed chance ultimately haunted them. But given the same opportunity Saturday, there was no mistake. With two outs, Martinez connected on Luis Garcia’s 1-0 fastball on the outside edge of the zone, lining it to the right-field seats for the quick 4-0 lead.

Garcia dominated the Red Sox in his lone start against them this season back on June 1, but he wasn’t right on Saturday. The right-hander walked Kevin Plawecki to lead off the second, and that was it for him, as he left the game with right knee discomfort.

Astros manager Dusty Baker was forced to go to Jake Odorizzi, who he didn’t want to use until the series went to Boston. And then the Red Sox had to wait … and wait … and wait for their next chance. After a lengthy first inning, Odorizzi, a starter, needed time to go through a full warmup that included stretching near the mound and long toss.

When the game finally resumed after a 14-minute delay, the Red Sox made the Astros pay for having to sit around. Christian Arroyo and Kiké Hernández each singled to load the bases before Devers smoked Odorizzi’s 1-1 cutter to right for the historic grand slam, his third homer of the playoffs and tying him with Carlos Correa with the most postseason RBI (24) before turning 25.

Nathan Eovaldi stayed in the game despite waiting 41 minutes to pitch again and an 8-0 lead, but looked strong. He gave up three runs in the fourth as the Astros produced a mini-rally with two outs, but he ended it with a three-pitch strikeout of Chas McCormick. He pitched into the sixth, inducing Alex Bregman into a pop out before Yordan Alvarez’s single ended his day at 5 1/3 innings.

Eovaldi’s effort continued to help rest the bullpen and position the Red Sox well for when the series resumes Monday. Neither Eduardo Rodriguez or Nick Pivetta, lining one of them up to start Game 3.

from Boston Herald https://ift.tt/3aKXQ26