American League Playoffs
Correa leads hit parade as Astros crush Red Sox and take 2-0 series lead
Dallas Keuchel bounced back from early trouble in game 2 of the ALDS on Friday, was backed by a huge game from Carlos Correa, and the Houston Astros have taken a commanding 2-0 lead in the ALDS.
Keuchel finished the day with 5.2 IP, 3 H, 1 ER, and 7 Ks and Correa drove in four runs in the 8-2 win over the Boston Red Sox.
Correa got the scoring started in the bottom of the first with a two-run homer to give the Astros a 2-0 lead, scoring Jose Altuve who stayed hot by getting a two-out single prior to Correa's home run.
After getting runners on the corners with no outs in the top of the second, the Red Sox cut the lead in half on a one-out RBI single from Jackie Bradley Jr. to make it 2-1. Keuchel fought back and was able to limit the damage to only one run by getting two strikeouts to end the inning.
George Springer extended the Astros' lead to 3-1 with a solo home run to start the bottom of the third, followed by a double by Alex Bregman. Altuve followed with a RBI single to make it 4-1 Astros and end the disappointing day for Drew Pomeranz after recording just six outs. The Astros loaded the bases with no outs against Carson Smith, but David Price entered and was able to get the Red Sox out of the inning, stranding all three runners.
After allowing the run in the second inning, Keuchel locked in and sat down every batter he faced until he walked Hanley Ramirez with two outs in the sixth on his 96th pitch, prompting a call to the bullpen. Chris Devenski recorded the final out of the sixth.
Marwin Gonzalez scored on an error in the bottom of the sixth when Mookie Betts fumbled a throw after catching a Bregman flyout for the second out. The Astros then broke the game open, getting a two-RBI double from Correa, then a RBI single from Gattis to extend their lead to 8-1.
Devenski returned and pitched the seventh, and Luke Gregerson the eighth, both scoreless. Ken Giles allowed a run on a RBI single by Bradley Jr. in the ninth, but still wrapped up the Astros 8-2 win.
Going for the sweep: The series will shift to Fenway Park in Boston for games 3 and 4 (if necessary). Game 3 is slated for Sunday afternoon at 1:30 PM Central and can be seen on FS1. Manager A.J. Hinch has not yet named the starter for the Astros, but the Red Sox are expected to send out former-Astro Doug Fister who went 5-9 in the regular season with a 4.88 ERA.
--------------
This story originally appeared on SportsMap.
