The 2018 American League Championship Series is a revenge opportunity for the Red Sox, after the Astros dominated them last year in the American League Division Series, 3-1. On Sunday October 14th, the Boson Red Sox evened up the ALCS at one game a piece, beating the Houston Astros 7-5. After the first two games in Boston, the series shifts to Minute Maid Park in Houston, for the next three games.
A day after beating the Astros, Boston’s starter for game 3, Nathan Eovaldi, was trolled by Houston’s third baseman Alex Bregman. Bregman posted an old video on his Instagram story that showed Astros hitters: Jose Altuve, George Springer, and himself hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs off of Eovaldi.
According to WEEI, many Red Sox players were asked how the post affected them. While most of them downplayed the impact of the post, first baseman Steve Pearce did say, “Wow. I don’t know why he would do that; we do our talking on the field. If he wants to run his mouth now we’ll see who is talking at the end of the series. I don’t think he needs to run his mouth. He’s one of the best players in the game. If that’s his personality, that’s his personality. Nothing against the guy. If that’s how he has to motivate himself, whatever.”
The post didn’t intimidate Eovaldi or the Red Sox, as game 3 opened up with two singles from Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi. J.D. Martinez then smacked a double through the first base side, allowing Betts to score the first run of the game. Benintendi would also come around to score after a RBI ground out to the shortstop by Xander Bogaerts, giving the Red Sox a 2-0 lead. Houston answered in the bottom of the first inning, as a Marwin Gonzalez single would drive in Altuve from third, making the score 2-1.
The next three innings would be scoreless as both pitchers began to settle in a bit. In the bottom of the 5th, Eovaldi gave up a two out walk to Altuve. That brought up Bregman, who would double on a ground ball that was misplayed by Boston’s third baseman Rafael Devers, Altuve would come around and score again, and tie the game up 2-2. An inning later, the Red Sox would take a 3-2 lead on a solo blast from Steve Pearce.
Eovaldi pitched a solid six innings giving up two runs and recording four strikeouts. The Boston bullpen which has been shaky in the past few games, came in and did a good job of holding down the Astros offense.
Going into the 8th inning, it was still a 3-2 game. Devers and Pearce got on for Brock Holt, who was then hit by a pitch to load the bases. Mitch Moreland would also get hit by a pitch, extending Boston’s lead to 4-2 after Pearce came in from third to score.
The bases were still loaded and Jackie Bradley Jr. was up.
Bradley faced Robert Osuna, who was struggling to get out the inning. With two outs and a 1-1 count, Bradley delivered a moonshot into the Houston night that left Astros fans stunned. When the ball came down the Red Sox would lead 8-2.
Bradley’s home run was the dagger.
The bullpen finished it off the rest of the way, and the Red Sox would take a 2-1 series lead in the ALCS. Game 4 is Wednesday at 8:39 PM ET, and the Red Sox are looking to take a comfortable 3-1 lead over Houston.
