HOUSTON – The Red Sox now lead the Astros 2-1 in the American League Championship Series thanks in big part to the two biggest hits of Jackie Bradley Jr.’s career.
Bradley followed up his two-out, three-RBI double in Game 2 with a two-out grand slam off Houston closer Roberto Osuna in the eighth inning of Game 3. That helped propel the Red Sox to an 8-2 victory.
Steve Pearce also homered in the win, a solo shot that put the Red Sox ahead in the sixth inning.
The Red Sox got another strong outing from Nathan Eovaldi, who went six innings and allowed two runs on six hits. Eovaldi has now tossed 13 innings of three-run ball in October.
Houston starter Dallas Keuchel went five innings and was charged with two runs.
How it happened:
Mookie Betts and Andrew Benintendi led off the game with back-to-back singles. J.D. Martinez drove in Betts with a double down the right field line and Benintendi came around to score on a groundout by Xander Bogaerts.
The Astros cut the lead in half in the bottom of the first on a two-out single by Marwin Gonzalez.
Houston tied the game in the fifth inning on a two-out double by Alex Bregman. Rafael Devers tried to make a backhanded play, but the ball got past him and went down the left field line, allowing Jose Altuve to score from first.
Pearce’s sixth inning home run put the Red Sox ahead 3-2. The shot came off Astros reliever Joe Smith, who had just taken over for Keuchel.
Oct 16, 2018; Houston, TX, USA; Boston Red Sox first baseman Steve Pearce (25) connects for a solo home run in the sixth inning against the Houston Astros in game three of the 2018 ALCS playoff baseball series at Minute Maid Park. Mandatory Credit: Erik Williams-USA TODAY Sports
The Sox blew the game open in the eighth. With two outs and two on, Osuna hit two straight hitters to push across an insurance run. He then grooved a fastball to Bradley Jr., who crushed it to right field for a grand slam to put Boston ahead 8-2.
Up next:
Game 4 is Wednesday night. The Red Sox will send Rick Porcello to the mound against Houston right-hander Charlie Morton.
