Astros-Red Sox ALDS Game 3: In Real Life
The Red Sox beat the Astros, 10-3, in Game 3 of the American League Division Series presented by Doosan on Sunday to reduce Houston's series lead to 2-1.
We were on the scene in and around Fenway Park:
6:14 p.m. ET: Brilliance from Boston's bullpen
For a game that seemed to be all Houston in the early going, the Astros never crossed the plate after scoring three in the first inning off starter Doug Fister. Carson Smith concluded an afternoon of excellent relief work from four Boston hurlers, working around two singles and striking out Carlos Correa to end the ninth and a 10-3 win that helped Boston get on the board in the ALDS, 2-1.
5:54 p.m. ET: Boston puts up six in the seventh
Playing for their season, the Red Sox did their best to distance themselves from the Astros in the seventh inning, putting up a six-spot to extend their Game 3 lead to 10-3. Hanley Ramirez was in the middle of the action again, collecting a two-run double off Houston bullpen stalwart Chris Devenski for his fourth hit in as many trips to the plate today. Rafael Devers delivered an RBI single and, one out later, Boston delivered a powerful blow by way of a three-run homer off the bat of Jackie Bradley Jr. that deflected off the glove of right fielder Josh Reddick and over the short right-field wall at Fenway Park.
5:22 p.m. ET: Price in his veins
Red Sox reliever David Price silenced the powerful Astros lineup over four scoreless innings. He allowed at least one baserunner in each frame, surrendering four hits and one walk overall, but he came up big when it mattered most to protect Boston's slim lead. His 57 pitches are the most by a Red Sox reliever in the postseason since Tim Wakefield threw 64 in Game 3 of Boston's epic 2004 ALDS comeback. He's also just the fourth Boston pitcher to throw four-plus scoreless innings of relief in the playoffs and the first since Pedro Martinez in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS. More >
4:42 p.m. ET: Traffic cop
David Price entered in relief in the top of the fourth looking to protect Boston's first lead of the series. He worked around a single in the scoreless fourth, but Houston offered more resistance in the fifth. Back-to-back hits put two on with none out and Carlos Correa striding into the batter's box. But Correa grounded into a fielder's choice, and Price fanned Marwin Gonzalez and retired Alex Bregman to end the threat.
4:01 p.m. ET: For Devers young
Brad Peacock got off to a good start in the third, but he wouldn't be able to complete the frame, striking out two before surrendering a double to Mitch Moreland and an RBI single to Hanley Ramirez, prompting manager A.J. Hinch to call on lefty Francisco Liriano while clinging to a one-run lead. The lead lingered for all of one pitch, before Rafael Devers sent the next one he saw from Liriano to right-center field for a go-ahead, two-run homer, giving Boston a 4-3 lead. Devers, who is 20 years and 349 days old, is the fifth-youngest player to homer in the postseason. The only younger players to accomplish the feat are Jose Cabrera, Manny Machado, Bryce Harper and Andruw Jones. Devers is also the youngest Red Sox player to go deep in the playoffs, passing Andrew Benintendi, who homered in Game 1 of last year's ALDS at 22 years, 92 days old. More >
3:30 p.m. ET: Boston gets on the board
After a narrow escape in the top of the second, the Red Sox made some headway against Astros starter Brad Peacock in the home half of the frame. Mitch Moreland and Hanley Ramirez led off with singles and Rafael Devers walked to load the bases with no outs, and Sandy Leon lined a single in front of left fielder Marwin Gonzalez to cut Houston's lead to 3-1. But Peacock buckled down to retire the next three batters without another run scoring.
3:16 p.m. ET: Mookie to the rescue
Red Sox right fielder Mookie Betts stole three runs from an Astros club gearing to break open the game, turning a Josh Reddick three-run homer into a crucial, inning-ending out in the second inning. Reddick's blast traveled a Statcast-estimated 375 feet, destined for the first row in the right-field seats before Betts got a glove on it to keep Houston's lead at 3-0.
3:12 p.m. ET: Watch and learn
Minute Maid Park hosts a watch party for Game 3 in Houston, complete with a Postseason Street Festival outside the park.
3:10 p.m. ET: Red Sox pull Fister
The Astros knocked out Red Sox starter Doug Fister after just 1 1/3 innings, marking the shortest postseason start for Boston since Bret Saberhagen pitched one inning in Game 5 of the 1999 ALDS against the Indians. After surrendering three runs in the first inning, Fister fell into trouble again in the second, issuing a leadoff walk to Carlos Beltran and allowing a single to Yuli Gurriel. Fister induced a lineout from Brian McCann for the first out of the inning, but manager John Farrell then called for reliever Joe Kelly to face George Springer. Fister, who faced nine batters, walked off to a smattering of boos from the crowd at Fenway Park. More >
2:46 p.m. ET: First-inning fiends
In a familiar scene, the Astros were first to the board Sunday. George Springer christened Game 3 with a single opposite Red Sox starter Doug Fister, and Josh Reddick quickly brought him home on a base hit, with Springer -- who had advanced to second on a wild pitch -- narrowly beating center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr.'s throw. One out later, Carlos Correa followed with a two-run homer, giving Houston a 3-0 lead. It was his second first-inning home run in as many games.
Both scoring plays offered a bit of intrigue. Bradley has one of the strongest arms in the game, and Springer clearly knew that, reaching a sprint speed of 30.4 feet per second on the play (well above his season average of 27.8 feet/sec), and barely beating Bradley's 97.9-mph laser. Correa's blast was a moonshot to center that left his bat at 100.4 mph with a 36-degree launch angle, per Statcast™. It traveled a projected 384 feet, barely clearing the wall in deep left-center field.
2:36 p.m. ET: Sweetheart deal
Astros Game 3 starter Brad Peacock flings a ball to his mom at the start of his warmup in the Fenway Park 'pen, then he tosses another to his dad when he's done. More >
2:32 p.m. ET: Rico, suave!
Two-time Red Sox All-Star Rico Petrocelli throws out the ceremonial first pitch before Game 3.
2:27 p.m. ET: Red, white and blue Monster
A massive American flag is draped over the Green Monster during the singing of the national anthem at Fenway Park.
2:23 p.m. ET: Folks at Fenway
Proud parents of two Astros stars, Game 3 starter Brad Peacock and leadoff hitter George Springer, are hoping to feel sweep emotions.
1:53 p.m. ET: Fan-atic
Postseason baseball brings out the inner -- or outer -- superfan in all of us.
1:35 p.m. ET: Sign of the times
Astros ace Dallas Keuchel, fresh of his Game 2 win on Friday, gives some fans some new family heirlooms.
1:21 p.m. ET: Tarp comes off!
After some early showers, the weather is clearing up in Boston.
1:13 p.m. ET: Legends never die
Astros icons: Ryan, Altuve, and ... Goob?
1:05 p.m. ET: Vote for Altuve
Jose Altuve's heroics have earned him a devoted, deserved following.
12:57 p.m. ET: Tall order
Is stilt walker Big League Brian meant to entertain fans during pregame or a Chris Sale impersonator? Perhaps a little of both. Either way, he's got an encouraging message for Sox fans.
12:45 p.m. ET: What's Brad's bag?
Lauren Blackwell met up with Astros manager A.J. Hinch to get the lowdown on his Game 3 starter, Brad Peacock.
12:06 p.m. ET: Hinch: To clinch is no cinch
Astros manager A.J. Hinch has jokes ... or does he?
11:54 a.m. ET: Farrell: Red Sox ready to rock
Boston manager John Farrell says his players know they face a steep climb, but they're excited to get out on the field in front of the Fenway faithful.
11:52 a.m. ET: Catching on
The Astros start their workout by playing catch along the left-field line.
11:39 a.m. ET: Astros post Game 3 lineup
11:30 a.m. ET: Rain, rain, go away ...
A rainy morning should give way to dry conditions by game time.
11 a.m. ET: Astros fans are early birds
Astros fans Felipe Morales and Paul Stevens were out on Yawkey Way early on Sunday making their presence known before Game 3 of the ALDS.
Sunday morning: Roar d'oeurves
Jose Altuve looks calm, but his sweater suggests an inner ferocity as he and his Astros teammates arrive at Fenway Park for Game 3.
10:52 a.m. ET: Red Sox announce lineup