The 6 though 9 batters in the Boston Red Sox lineup combined for six hits and nine RBI Thursday night, en route to a 12-8 win over the Houston Astros at Fenway Park to salvage the final game of a three game series.
The teams swapped a one run lead four times over the first three innings. Houston (35-27) then scored four times in the fifth on a Yuli Gurriel bases loaded walk, and a three-run double by Kyle Tucker to make it 7-4 Astros. Boston (38-25) tied it in the bottom half when Christian Arroyo took a 2-1 pitch and deposited it into the green monster seats in left center for a three-run homer to tie it 7-7. Jose Altuve regained the advantage for the guests with a solo homer in the top of the sixth, but the Sox responded with five more in the bottom half to take the lead for good. Kike Hernandez led off with a double, and was moved to third on a groundout by Alex Verdugo. JD Martinez knocked in Hernandez with a sacrifice fly that was misplayed by Tucker in right to allow Martinez to reach first. Xander Bogaerts then walked, and Rafael Devers popped to the shortstop for the second out. Hunter Renfoe walked to the load the bases, before Christian Vazquez was hit by a pitch and Arroyo walked to make it 10-8. Bobby Dalbec finished off the big inning with a two-run double to left.
Starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez got a no-decision allowing six runs on six hits with three walks and five strikeouts in 4.2 innings. Darwinzon Hernandez (1-2) picked up the win in relief. Vazquez (3 hits, 3 RBI), Arroyo (1 hit, 4 RBI) and Dalbec (2 hits, 2 RBI) led the offense from the bottom of the lineup. Hernandez, Bogaerts, and Devers also had two hits each. Blake Taylor (0-1) took the loss and got a blown save for Houston, in relief of Zack Greinke who allowed four runs on seven hits in 3.0 innings in his start. Altuve, Alex Bregman, Yordan Alvarez, and Myles Straw had two hits a piece. Boston welcomes in Toronto for the start of a four game series on Friday night. The Sox send RHP Garrett Richards (4-4, 3.88 ERA) to the mound to be opposed by RHP Ross Stripling (2-3, 4.71) for the Blue Jays in the opener.
