Local

ALCS Game 1: Altuve, Correa lead Houston to Game 1 victory over Sox

By David Souza, Boston 25 News

Championship Series - Boston Red Sox v Houston Astros - Game One HOUSTON, TEXAS - OCTOBER 15: Enrique Hernandez #5 of the Boston Red Sox makesa diving catch on a ball hit by Michael Brantley #23 of the Houston Astros with the bases loaded to end the second inning of Game One of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park on October 15, 2021 in Houston, Texas. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images) (Elsa/Getty Images)

By David Souza, Boston 25 News

HOUSTON — The Boston Red Sox dropped Game 1 of the ALCS against the Houston Astros Friday night thanks to a pair of home runs from Jose Altuve and Carlos Correa. The pair of blasts capped a two-run rally by the home squad after Boston led into the sixth inning.

Trailing 3-1, the Astros mounted a comeback with a two-run homer by Altuve in the bottom of the sixth before a solo shot by Correa in the bottom of the seventh gave them the lead. Altuve brought Yuli Gurriel in on a sacrifice fly in the eighth inning to pad the lead as the Astros won the contest, 5-4.

>>>RELATED: When and where to buy Boston Red Sox ALCS tickets

Kiké Hernandez had a two home run game in the loss for Boston while also making a dazzling defensive play in the second inning. He led off the ninth with his second solo shot of the game to bring the Sox within one, but they were unable to complete the late rally.

Nathan Eovaldi will take the mound for Boston in Game 2 Saturday. He’ll be opposed by Luis Garcia for Houston.

Chris Sale, Boston’s Game 1 starter, failed to make it out of the third inning for the second consecutive start of the postseason, finishing with a final line of: 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K.

Show us your Sox spirit!

Live Updates:

12:16 p.m.: The Red Sox were unable to complete the rally, falling in Game 1 to Houston, 5-4. The two teams will be back in action tomorrow night in Game 2.

12:10 p.m.: Kiké Hernandez’s second homer of the game brings the Red Sox within one as they cut the deficit to 5-4.

12:00 a.m.: Altuve added to the Houston lead, bringing in Yuli Gurriel on a sacrifice fly to centerfield. 5-3 Houston in the bottom of the eighth.

11:30 p.m.: A Carlos Correa solo shot gave Houston the lead late in the game as Hansel Robles surrendered the bomb in the bottom of the seventh. 4-3 Houston.

11:00 p.m.: The Astros tied the contest at 3-3 following a two-run homer by Jose Altuve in the bottom of the sixth off Tanner Houck.

9:55 p.m.: Sox squander a double by Kiké in the fourth, head to the bottom of the inning still leading 3-1.

9:40 p.m.: Chris Sale exits the contest in the bottom of the third. His final stat line reads: 2.2 IP, 1 ER, 5 H, 1 BB, 2 K.

9:22 p.m.: Despite striking out Alex Verdugo, Framber Valdez is lifted in the top of the third with two on and two out as the Astros trail, 3-1. His final line is 2.2 IP, 2 ER, 3 R, 6 H, 3 BB, 2 K.

9:20 p.m.: Hunter Renfroe doubled home another run to push the Boston lead to 3-1 as Martinz scored from second on a ball that was stroked to left field just inside the foul line.

9:16 p.m.: A potential inning-ending double play was avoided when a Jose Altuve error allowed JD Martinez to reach safely and Xander Bogaerts to score all the way from second on a ball hit up the middle. 2-1 Boston Top 3rd.

9:09 p.m.: Moments after making a run-saving catch, Kiké Hernandez crushes a solo homer to left-center to knot the score at 1-1.

9:05 p.m.: The Red Sox and Chris Sale escape a bases-loaded jam in the second thanks to a full-extension diving catch by Kiké Hernandez to keep the score 1-0 Astros.

8:43 p.m.:

8:36 p.m.: Astros strike first on a sacrifice fly by Yordan Alvarez in the top of the first that plated Jose Altuve from third. 1-0 Houston.

8:21 p.m.: Red Sox leave the bases loaded in the top of the first as Hunter Renfroe flies out to center to end the threat without a run.

8:10 p.m.: The game is underway as CF Kiké Hernandez strokes a single into left field on the second pitch of the contest.

4:30 p.m.: Both teams have released their starting lineups ahead of Friday night’s ALCS Game 1.

The Red Sox will send Chris Sale to the bump for the opening contest and will role out the following lineup:

  1. Kiké Hernandez, CF
  2. Kyle Schwarber, 1B
  3. Xander Bogaerts, SS
  4. Rafael Devers, 3B
  5. J.D. Martinez, DH
  6. Hunter Renfroe, RF
  7. Alex Verdugo, LF
  8. Christian Arroyo, 2B
  9. Christian Vazquez, C

>>>MORE: Chris Sale makes Cape Cod Baseball community proud ahead of ALCS start

For Houston, they’ll send lefty Framber Valdez to the hill and have set the following lineup:

  1. Jose Altuve, 2B
  2. Michael Brantley, DH
  3. Alex Bregman, 3B
  4. Yordan Alvarez, LF
  5. Carlos Correa, SS
  6. Kyle Tucker, RF
  7. Yuli Gurriel, 1B
  8. Chas McCormick, CF
  9. Martín Maldonado, C

12:15 p.m.: Rosters for the ALCS were officially released by both teams.

For the Red Sox, the roster looks largely the same from the start of the American League Division Series against the Rays. The lone difference being the absence of RHP Garrett Richards, who went down with a hamstring injury following ALDS Game 1. In his stead came reliever Matt Barnes for the remainder of that series, but he too has been left of the ALCS roster.

Instead, Boston has opted to go with bullpen arms Darwinzon Hernandez and Hirokazu Sawamura. Their position players will remain the same as the ALDS.

For the Houston Astros, the most notable missing member of their ALCS roster is RHP Lance McCullers Jr., one of the aces of their pitching staff. The righty left after four innings of work in Game 4 of Houston’s ALDS win over the Chicago White Sox, citing forearm tightness.

In his place will be RHP Jake Odorizzi, who was added to the roster along with lefty reliever Blake Taylor.

Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts.

Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW

©2021 Cox Media Group

Most Read