JD Martinez and Rafael Devers both hit grandslam homeruns in the first and second inning on Saturday evening, in helping the Boston Red Sox roll to a 9-5 win over the Houston Astros in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park. The best of seven is now tied 1-1, with the series now shifting to Boston for the next three games.
Kyle Schwarber led off the first with a double, and with one out Devers walked. After Xander Bogaerts struck out swinging, Alex Verdugo also walked to load the bases. Martinez then took a 1-0 pitch from Houston starter Luis Garcia to the opposite field for a homerun and an early 4-0 lead. The Sox did it again in the second. Kevin Plawecki was up first and walked, and Garcia then left the game with an injury. Jake Odorizzi came on and allowed an opposite field single to Christian Arroyo, before striking out Schwarber. Kike Hernandez then singled to load the bases again, and Devers on a 1-1 pitch took Odorizzi down the right field line for another grandslam to extend the advantage to 8-0. Boston became the first team in postseason history to hit grandslams in back to back innings. Hernandez continued his torrid stretch of playoff hitting with a one out solo homerun in the fourth inning. Houston got the board in the bottom half of the fourth on an RBI double by Kyle Tucker and a two-run single from Yuli Gurriel. Gurriel added a one out solo homer in the ninth, and Jason Castro added another solo shot with two outs in their last at bat to wrap up the scoring.
Nathan Eovaldi (2-0) picked up his second win in three postseason starts allowing three runs on five hits with one walk and three strikeouts in 5.1 innings. Adam Ottavino, Garrett Whitlock, Darwinzon Hernandez, and Ryan Brasier combined to allow just two runs on three hits over the final 3.2 innings. Hernandez, Bogaerts, Verdugo, and Martinez each had two hits. Garcia (0-1) took the loss and was charged with five runs on two hits in just 1.0 inning. Tucker and Gurriel had two hits a piece for the Astros. Game 3 is scheduled for 8:07 p.m. at Fenway Park on Monday. Both starting pitchers are TBA.
