The Houston Astros are already in the World Series mindset and they proved that on the road Saturday night, as they cruised to a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox to open the ALCS. Justin Verlander went six innings and allowed just two hits, while Red Sox starter Chris Sale struggled in a rare sub-par performance. The left-hander lasted just four innings and allowed two runs, walked four, and struck out five, as both starters struggled to find the strike zone on this chilly night in Boston. Verlander tied a Postseason career high with four walks, including one of the bases loaded variety to tie the game. He also allowed a crucial run on a wild pitch, but then settled down the rest of the way.
Sale never got things going, although, it was reliever Joe Kelly who suffered the loss after giving up the go-ahead RBI single to Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel both went deep in the ninth inning, Gurriel's a three-run blast, that pulled the defending champs away for good.
Sale had deja vu from last season's ALDS matchup against the Astros, where he gave up back-to-back home runs in the first inning and had seven runs against him overall. He only allowed one hit on the night, but loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks, before George Springer singled home two in the second inning. Verlander's win improves him to 13-2 in the American League playoffs, as he has allowed a combined nine hits over his past four Postseason starts.
Sale's wild start led to a history-making night for the Astros, as they drew 10 walks in the win, which is the most in a Postseason game since 2001. Boston pithcers also hit three batters, and the left-handed starter needed 86 pitches to get through four innings of work, and Boston will turn to another struggling starter in David Price for Game 2. The left-hander is 0-9 in his Postseason career, including an ALDS loss to the New York Yankees, as he will be opposed by Gerrit Cole on Sunday night.
Sale never got things going, although, it was reliever Joe Kelly who suffered the loss after giving up the go-ahead RBI single to Carlos Correa in the sixth inning. Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel both went deep in the ninth inning, Gurriel's a three-run blast, that pulled the defending champs away for good.
Sale had deja vu from last season's ALDS matchup against the Astros, where he gave up back-to-back home runs in the first inning and had seven runs against him overall. He only allowed one hit on the night, but loaded the bases on a hit batter and two walks, before George Springer singled home two in the second inning. Verlander's win improves him to 13-2 in the American League playoffs, as he has allowed a combined nine hits over his past four Postseason starts.
Sale's wild start led to a history-making night for the Astros, as they drew 10 walks in the win, which is the most in a Postseason game since 2001. Boston pithcers also hit three batters, and the left-handed starter needed 86 pitches to get through four innings of work, and Boston will turn to another struggling starter in David Price for Game 2. The left-hander is 0-9 in his Postseason career, including an ALDS loss to the New York Yankees, as he will be opposed by Gerrit Cole on Sunday night.
