The Astros also won the championship in 2017, a crown tainted by the team's sign-stealing scandal.īoth teams leaned heavily on their bullpens after both Boston starter Chris Sale and Houston's Framber Valdez were chased in the third.
Hunter Renfroe then hit an RBI double to left field to extend it to 3-1 before Houston's two brightest stars came through late.Īltuve and Correa are connecting again for a team trying to reach the World Series for the second time in three years. But the ball grazed the second baseman's glove and rolled between his legs for an error that allowed Martinez to reach and Bogaerts to score to put Boston up 2-1. Martinez hit a grounder to Altuve for what should have been a routine play. Xander Bogaerts walked with one out, Rafael Devers singled and J.D. Hernández opened a three-run third with his soaring homer to center to tie it at 1.
"Enrique is en fuego," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.Ĭhas McCormick singled with one out in the sixth before Altuve became the fourth player in MLB history to hit at least 20 postseason homers with his shot to left-center field off Tanner Houck that tied it at 3. He passed Billy Hatcher (1999), Marquis Grissom (1995), Hideki Matsui (2004) and Randy Arozarena (2020), who all had 11. He has been red hot for the Red Sox this October, with 13 hits in his past four games to set an MLB record for most in a four-game span in one postseason. Houston added some insurance when Yuli Gurriel slid in just before the tag to score on a sacrifice fly by Altuve that made it 5-3, beating a terrific throw by Hernández. "It would have been a lot cooler if we won the game," Hernández said.Īhead 4-3, the Astros loaded the bases with no outs in the eighth when Hirokazu Sawamura plunked Martín Maldonado. The center fielder's second homer came off closer Ryan Pressly to start the ninth and cut the lead to 5-4, but Pressly retired the next three batters to get the save. Hernández, who won a World Series with the Los Angeles Dodgers last year, homered twice among his four hits and likely saved multiple runs with two terrific catches. He had three hits, and his performance gave him 55 postseason RBIs, passing Albert Pujols for the most among active MLB players. He has a history of big hits for Houston that includes 18 postseason home runs, several of them in key situations late in games.
"And, boy, they are some clutch guys."Īltuve tied the game with a two-run shot in the sixth before Correa connected off losing pitcher Hansel Robles with two outs in the seventh to put the Astros ahead 4-3.Ĭorrea, who has been with the Astros since being drafted first overall in 2012, becomes a free agent at season's end, and it seems likely he won't remain in Houston. "I've been watching them for years, and it's a pleasure to be watching them up close and personal," said Dusty Baker, who is in his second season as manager of the Astros. "They told me to hit the watch when I hit the homer."Ĭorrea teamed with Jose Altuve as the AL Central champions did just enough to overcome the heroics of Kiké Hernández, who starred with his bat and glove for the wild-card Red Sox. Now to go out there, hit homers,'" Correa said. "When the playoffs start, (my teammates) always tell me: 'It's your time. "It's my time!" the Houston Astros star screamed.Īnd if his time with the only MLB team he has ever played for runs out at the end of this season, the star shortstop sure is making this an October to remember.Ĭorrea hit a tiebreaking home run in the seventh inning, hollering toward his dugout before beginning a trot around the bases and propelling the Astros over the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Friday night in the American League Championship Series opener.
HOUSTON - Carlos Correa paused a few seconds at the plate and tapped the spot on his wrist where a watch would be.