The Houston Astros scored six runs over the first two innings on Tuesday night, and emphatically ended the five game win streak for the Boston Red Sox with a 7-1 win at Fenway Park in Boston in the opener of a three game series.
Houston (34-26) got some payback against Boston starter Martin Perez, who pitched brilliantly in a Sox win over the Astros last Thursday in Texas. Carlos Correa hit a one out solo homer off the foul line in left in the top of the first for an early 1-0 lead. Things really fell apart for Perez in the second, as the guests scored five times on five hits. Michael Brantley and Kyle Tucker hit back to back doubles to start it for a 2-0 advantage, Martin Maldonado then followed with an RBI single to score Tucker. After Myles Straw walked, the Sox lefty struck out Jose Altuve for the first out in the inning. Correa then knocked in his second run with a double to score Maldonado. After an intentional walk to Alex Bregman to load the bases, Perez hit Yordan Alvarez with a pitch and Yulil Gurriel followed with a single to score another run to make it 6-0. Alvarez hit a solo homerun in the fourth for the other Houston run. Boston (37-24) got their only run of the night on a Hunter Renfoe RBI groundout.
Perez (4-3) took the loss allowing six runs on six hits with three walks and two strikeouts in 2.0 innings. Kike Hernandez was the only Sox batter with multiple hits with two. Framber Valdez (2-0) had his second straight impressive start against Boston allowing just one run on five hits with no walks and eight strikeouts in 7.1 innings. Correa and Gurriel had three hits each, as the Astros have now taken four of the five games between the two clubs in just over a week. Game two is Wednesday night at 7:10 p.m. as the Sox will send RHP Nathan Eovaldi (7-2, 3.78 ERA) to the hill, to be opposed by RHP Jake Odorizzi (0-3, 7.16) for the Astros.
