ALCS Game 2 GameThread: Houston Astros at Boston Red Sox

The Houston Astros took the series opener of the ALCS last night with a 7-2 victory over the Boston Red Sox in Fenway Park, in a game that took 4:03 to complete though it didn’t have a lot of action with a total of five runs through eight innings and a combined eight hits total on the night.

Red Sox’ skipper Alex Cora talked after the loss about what he saw from his squad in what a reporter described as a bit of a messy game.

“We had our chances in the first inning and there with the bases loaded with one out,” Cora said.

“We didn’t cash in. We didn’t make some plays defensively. And we got through the ninth inning with the game 3-2 and we’re three outs away. We’ve got the closer and see if we can put a rally and we didn’t finish the game.

“They finish games. They’re pretty tough in bullpens. And they grind out at-bats. I think it was ten walks, three hit batsmen. We didn’t make plays. It wasn’t the best night but if you don’t take a positive from the game it was 3-2 going into the ninth.”

Astros’ skipper A.J. Hinch talked about taking advantage of some of the mistakes the Red Sox made and winning the first game of the series.

“That was a really close game for the way that the game had played out,” Hinch explained.

“I mean both sides, if I would have told you [Chris] Sale would have control problems and [Justin] Verlander would walk himself into a major jam and the game was still going to be 3-2 with four or five hits between the two teams, that’s a lot of odd things [to have] happen.

“But when you’re given an opportunity, specifically in the playoffs and you can capitalize, it’s huge. Mistakes happen at all times, but when mistakes happen in the playoffs and the momentum starts to shift the other side that’s what you want to do. When you get an extra out, take advantage of it; when you get a free pass, try to find a way to score them and put pressure on the opponent.”

Who will take advantage of mistakes and capitalize on them to put pressure on the other team tonight?

Gerrit Cole starts for the Astros in Game 2 against Red Sox’ lefty David Price at 7:09 PM EDT in Fenway.