Boston bounced back in a big way Saturday night downing the Astros 9-5 to even their ALCS series 1-1. The Red Sox used two grand slams to power their way to victory and take the home side crowd out of the game early on, going up 8-0 after two innings of play.
The game was a markedly different affair from Friday night’s 5-4 loss where Boston was forced to utilize 9 different pitchers to get them to the finish line. This time round, Nate Eovaldi continued his impressive postseason run going 5.1 innings, striking out 3 and issuing only one walk. Offensively J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers each hit a grand slam in the first two innings of the game to provide all the run support Boston would need.
In doing so, the Red Sox became the first team in postseason history to hit two grand slams in the same game. It’s also only the 4th time a team has hit a GS in each of the first two innings of a ball game in MLB history as well.
Making matters worse for Houston rookie starter Luis Garcia exited game 2 with a knee injury with no outs in the top of the second inning. This latest setback to their rotation comes on the heels of the Astros leaving Lance McCullers Jr. off their ALCS roster due to a muscle strain in his right forearm.
Following Garcia’s departure, Jake Odorizzi threw 82 pitches over 4 innings of relief work. The veteran right hander served up a grand slam of his own in the 2nd inning to Devers to break the game wide open for Boston. Houston had originally penciled in Odorizzi to start game 4 at Fenway, but it appears as though the Astros will need to come up with a new plan following his busy evening Saturday.
The Astros could theoretically recall an additional arm from their taxi squad. However in doing so, Garcia would then be ineligible to return for the World Series should Houston advance. For the moment the Astros have yet to provide any medical updates on Garcia’s status.
The series now shifts to Boston for the next 3 games, and for the time being it would appear as though momentum may be going in the Red Sox favour as well. Houston has indicated that right hander Jose Urquidy will take the mound for game 3, but beyond that is anyone’s guess. Boston has yet to name a starter for a pivotal game 3 at Fenway.
-Kyle Skinner
Twitter: @JKyleSkinner