On too many occasions throughout the 2015 seasons, once something has gone awry for the Boston Red Sox, the entire ballclub simply has collapsed like a stack of dominoes.
After relief pitcher Alexi Ogando surrendered consecutive home runs in the seventh inning to hand Houston a 4-3 lead, this appeared to be morphing into just one of those afternoons for Boston. However, thanks to a two-run shot over the Green Monster by designated hitter Hanley Ramirez in the bottom half of the inning, the Red Sox were able to stave off the scare and emerge with a 5-4 victory, completing a series victory over the American League's most lethal team.
Catcher Ryan Hanigan was crucial to Boston's winning efforts, going 3 for 3 while driving in two runs.,Third baseman Pablo Sandoval went 3-for-4 with two runs scored, and Ramirez both drove in two runs and scored twice for the Red Sox, who have garnered three consecutive series victories, winning seven of their last 10 games.
Starter Eduardo Rodriguez was admirable for Boston, striking out eight while allowing just one run on six hits; however, his high pitch count forced manager John Farrell to relieve him after five innings, forcing Ogando to pitch multiple innings. Recording a no-decision (identical to Rodriguez), Houston starter Lance McCullers relinquished a single run on seven hits in five innings of work, striking out three and walking three.
On the Astros' side, shortstop Carlos Correa went 3 for 4 with a two-run blast in the seventh inning that knotted the game up at three runs apiece while second baseman Marwin Gonzalez went 2 for 4.
Boston got on the board initially in the second inning, grabbing an early 1-0 lead. Ramirez walked to begin the stanza and was promptly thrown out at third on Sandoval's ensuing double. Right fielder Shane Victorino flew out for the second out of the inning; however, left fielder Alejandro De Aza walked to bridge the gap for Hanigan's subsequent opposite-field RBI single which plated Sandoval.
The Astros responded in the top of the fourth inning, however, knotting up the contest at one run apiece. Third baseman Luis Valbuena walked to lead off the inning and was transferred to second on a one-out single by Gonzalaz. Rodriguez was able to retire the ensuing batsman for out number two; however, he proceeded to yield an RBI single to center fielder Jake Marisnick, coughing up the one-run lead.
Boston, facing Houston reliever Will Harris, managed to recover the advantage in the bottom of the sixth, however, as, after Ramirez reached first to begin the inning on an error by Correa, he promptly scored on Sandoval's second double of the contest. After being sacrificed to third by Victorino, Sandoval then reached home on a critical two-out RBI single by Hanigan, this one pieced to right field yet again.
Center fielder Mookie Betts then walked, and Boston appeared to be destined to extend the gap as second baseman Brock Holt lifted a fly ball to the gap in left-center. However, Marisnick stymied the hopes of the Red Sox faithful, leaping into the Green Monster scoreboard to make an incredible grab, preventing two runs from scoring.
After leaving two runs on base in the preceding inning, the situation worsened for Boston in the seventh. With two outs and designated hitter Jose Altuve standing at second base, Correa lifted a 417-foot bomb into the Monster seats against Ogando, tying the game at three. As Red Sox fans reeled from coughing up the lead, left fielder Evan Gattis planted another Ogando pitch over the wall, handing the Astros a 4-3 lead.
The situation looked bleak for Boston; still, the team was able to garner a crucial offensive strike against left-hander Tony Sipp (L, 2-4). After shortstop Xander Bogaerts struck out to begin the bottom half of the inning, first baseman David Ortiz worked a valuable walk, and Ramirez responded to the echoes of "Hanley! Hanley!" reverberating through the Fenway Park stands by knocking a two-run homer over the left corner of the Monster, sending the crowd into a frenzy.
Reliever Junichi Tazawa worked a scoreless eighth inning for his 13th hold of the season, and closer Koji Uehara worked around an error by Holt in the ninth inning to record his 19th save. Matt Barnes (1-0), who recorded the final out in the seventh inning, received credit for the win.
The win brings Boston within six games of .500, sitting six games behind the New York Yankees for first place in the A.L. East. Houston, on the other hand, still remains on top of the A.L. West, 3.5 games above the Los Angeles Angels with a 48-36 record.