Astros edge out Red Sox
The Sports Xchange
Oct 1, 2017
BOSTON -- With little at stake for either team in the season finale, the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox rested most of their regulars in a 4-3 Astros' win Sunday at Fenway Park.
Boston wrapped up the American League East Division title on Saturday and, because of the tiebreaker, Houston had no shot at the best record in the AL.
The two teams will face each other in the AL Division Series starting Thursday in Houston.
Houston started second baseman Jose Altuve, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, designated hitter Carlos Beltran and shortstop Marwin Gonzalez. Boston started third baseman Rafael Devers, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and catcher Sandy Leon, while catcher Christian Vazquez served as the DH for just the second time this season.
The Red Sox scored three runs on four hits, a walk and a passed ball off Houston starter Collin McHugh in the fourth inning. But that was all the offense they could muster.
The Astros came back with four runs off three Red Sox pitchers in the seventh inning. Fernando Abad took the loss, falling to 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA this season.
McHugh earned the win, improving his record to 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA. He has not lost in September or October since 2013. McHugh is 16-0 in September and October since 2014.
Tyler Clippard got the save, his fifth of the season and second with Houston.
NOTES: Houston Astros RF Josh Reddick did not play in the four-game series. He had returned to Houston to have his ailing back examined. He is expected to work out with the team on Tuesday and be available for the AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. ... Houston 2B Jose Altuve ended the regular season batting a career- and major league-best .346. He had already secured this season's batting title, his third in the last four seasons. He is just the third right-handed hitter in AL history (since 1900) to win three or more batting titles. The AL record for right-handed hitters is four titles, by Harry Heilman (1921, '23, '25, '27) and Miguel Cabrera (2011-13, '15). ... Astros RHP Justin Verlander went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA since being acquired on Aug. 31. He recorded 43 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched, allowing just 17 hits for a .149 opponents' average. ... Boston Red Sox INF Eduardo Nunez has been sidelined by a right knee injury but manager John Farrell expects him to be available for the ALDS starting Thursday. ... Boston LHP David Price has not allowed a run in five appearances, all out of the bullpen, since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 14. He has pitched 8 2/3 innings in that span, giving up three hits, with two walks and 13 strikeouts for an opponents' average of .100. ... Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts hit .324 with a .442 on-base percentage and 19 runs scored in his last 18 games of the season. He ended the season with a nine-game hitting streak.
Oct 1, 2017
BOSTON -- With little at stake for either team in the season finale, the Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox rested most of their regulars in a 4-3 Astros' win Sunday at Fenway Park.
Boston wrapped up the American League East Division title on Saturday and, because of the tiebreaker, Houston had no shot at the best record in the AL.
The two teams will face each other in the AL Division Series starting Thursday in Houston.
Houston started second baseman Jose Altuve, first baseman Yuli Gurriel, designated hitter Carlos Beltran and shortstop Marwin Gonzalez. Boston started third baseman Rafael Devers, center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr., and catcher Sandy Leon, while catcher Christian Vazquez served as the DH for just the second time this season.
The Red Sox scored three runs on four hits, a walk and a passed ball off Houston starter Collin McHugh in the fourth inning. But that was all the offense they could muster.
The Astros came back with four runs off three Red Sox pitchers in the seventh inning. Fernando Abad took the loss, falling to 2-1 with a 3.30 ERA this season.
McHugh earned the win, improving his record to 5-2 with a 3.55 ERA. He has not lost in September or October since 2013. McHugh is 16-0 in September and October since 2014.
Tyler Clippard got the save, his fifth of the season and second with Houston.
NOTES: Houston Astros RF Josh Reddick did not play in the four-game series. He had returned to Houston to have his ailing back examined. He is expected to work out with the team on Tuesday and be available for the AL Division Series against the Boston Red Sox. ... Houston 2B Jose Altuve ended the regular season batting a career- and major league-best .346. He had already secured this season's batting title, his third in the last four seasons. He is just the third right-handed hitter in AL history (since 1900) to win three or more batting titles. The AL record for right-handed hitters is four titles, by Harry Heilman (1921, '23, '25, '27) and Miguel Cabrera (2011-13, '15). ... Astros RHP Justin Verlander went 5-0 with a 1.06 ERA since being acquired on Aug. 31. He recorded 43 strikeouts in 34 innings pitched, allowing just 17 hits for a .149 opponents' average. ... Boston Red Sox INF Eduardo Nunez has been sidelined by a right knee injury but manager John Farrell expects him to be available for the ALDS starting Thursday. ... Boston LHP David Price has not allowed a run in five appearances, all out of the bullpen, since returning from the disabled list on Sept. 14. He has pitched 8 2/3 innings in that span, giving up three hits, with two walks and 13 strikeouts for an opponents' average of .100. ... Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts hit .324 with a .442 on-base percentage and 19 runs scored in his last 18 games of the season. He ended the season with a nine-game hitting streak.
