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.
Sox come up short in Game One of the ALCS losing 5-4. Complete coverage and a live report from Houston coming up next on @boston25. #RedSox
— Mark Ockerbloom (@ocktalks) October 16, 2021
Game 1: @astros ✅
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
Houston comes back thanks to homers from Altuve and Correa to take Game 1 of the ALCS! pic.twitter.com/Tk1v3cEJ7X
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.
OH. MY. WORD.
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
Kiké Hernández has homered again!!
It's a 1-run game! pic.twitter.com/aRSjjNiCx4
Just need one more following yet another solo shot from Kiké. 5-4 Houston.
— Dave Souza (@dsouza4717) October 16, 2021
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.
CORREA!! He knew he got all of that one 😤@astros lead! pic.twitter.com/GgU0cCu3Yr
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
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.
ALTUVE!!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
This game is tied!! pic.twitter.com/a0c481fbYt
The chant. The homer. @JoseAltuve27 delivered. pic.twitter.com/YmLWNDujKQ
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2021
9:55 p.m.: Sox squander a double by Kiké in the fourth, head to the bottom of the inning still leading 3-1.
Double. ✅
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
Kiké Hernández is 3-for-3 tonight and it's only the 4th inning. He's a triple away from the cycle. pic.twitter.com/3BMw3expCY
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.
So #chrissale done after 2 and 2/3rds…. Leaves with 3-1 lead, faces 16 batters, 61 pitches, 1 run, 5 hits,1 BB, 2 k’s replaced by Adam Ottavino who gets Yuli Gurriell to ground out to end the inning..
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
3-1 #redsox over #astros #alcs GM1 @boston25 @bos25sports pic.twitter.com/oJdYNuehQN
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.
Yimi Garcia coming in for #astros….. Framber Valdez done after 64 pitches 3-1 in 3rd..still only one out….#ALCS GM1 @boston25
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
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.
Boston adds another!
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
The bats have arrived in Houston! pic.twitter.com/IDKdK9nA1t
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.
An error from Altuve allows the Red Sox to take the lead. pic.twitter.com/BiwGffgfVN
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
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.
No words....
— FOX Sports: MLB (@MLBONFOX) October 16, 2021
Kiké Hernández is NOT HUMAN right now! pic.twitter.com/zlOpA10ESF
How Freaking hot is KIKE!!!! 2-2…ties game 1-1. This postseason now: 12-25, 2 homers , 3 doubles, 23 total bases…Kike is now first in postseason avg hitting .480..just passed some guy named Mookie@boston25 @bos25sports. pic.twitter.com/AKcyJXmWX0
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
KIKÉ STRIKES AGAIN. pic.twitter.com/AS8NdbqrGu
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2021
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.
Kiké saves the day! 😳 pic.twitter.com/TAtObvjhkB
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2021
Hernandez with a huuuuuuge diving catch to end the threat!😲Wow! #RedSox #ALCS
— Mark Ockerbloom (@ocktalks) October 16, 2021
Big smiles for a big catch. pic.twitter.com/7vPQugamZc
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 16, 2021
8:43 p.m.:
28 pitches for #ChrisSale in 1st inning. Not a great beginning…fastball topping out at 95-96…mostly around 94…tight strike zone not helping but he’s not getting a lot of swings and misses…lucky to get out of inning giving up just 1 run @boston25 @bos25sports #alcs2021 GM 1
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
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.
The @astros are on the board first. pic.twitter.com/Seor6gSh1T
— MLB (@MLB) October 16, 2021
Houston strikes first on Sac Fly by Jordan Alvarez…Jose Altuve tags and scores…..Alex Verdugo throw is off mark 1-0 @astros over #redsox still in bottom of first 2 outs @boston25 @bos25sports #mlb #mblpostseason #mlbplayoffs
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
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.
Top of first in #Houston #Redsox load the bases of #astros Framber Valdez but they leave me loaded….Hunter Renfroe flies out to center
— Butch Stearns (@ButchStearns) October 16, 2021
Missed opportunity…..0-0 after half inning GM 1 #ALCS #MLBPostseason #MLBPlayoffs @boston25 pic.twitter.com/anTCzPZVDK
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.
Let’s play. pic.twitter.com/9PMVdkDLLY
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 16, 2021
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:
- Kiké Hernandez, CF
- Kyle Schwarber, 1B
- Xander Bogaerts, SS
- Rafael Devers, 3B
- J.D. Martinez, DH
- Hunter Renfroe, RF
- Alex Verdugo, LF
- Christian Arroyo, 2B
- Christian Vazquez, C
>>>MORE: Chris Sale makes Cape Cod Baseball community proud ahead of ALCS start
Finally game day. pic.twitter.com/Oxew1KHI6V
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 15, 2021
For Houston, they’ll send lefty Framber Valdez to the hill and have set the following lineup:
- Jose Altuve, 2B
- Michael Brantley, DH
- Alex Bregman, 3B
- Yordan Alvarez, LF
- Carlos Correa, SS
- Kyle Tucker, RF
- Yuli Gurriel, 1B
- Chas McCormick, CF
- 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.
These guys have big weekend plans. pic.twitter.com/VC5dPgsWue
— Red Sox (@RedSox) October 15, 2021
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.
Our ALCS roster is set.#ForTheH pic.twitter.com/2jSXz738Kt
— Houston Astros (@astros) October 15, 2021
Down. To. Four.
— MLB (@MLB) October 15, 2021
Who will emerge from the LCS? #MakeItMajor #Postseason pic.twitter.com/vlGnZCDWqs
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