Field Level Media
May 25, 2019
Carlos Correa capped a three-hit night with a walk-off single, as the Houston Astros answered the Boston Red Sox's ninth-inning rally with one of their own for a 4-3 win Saturday.
Correa singled to right field with the bases loaded off Red Sox reliever Matt Barnes (2-1), who allowed a leadoff double to Aledmys Diaz before issuing walks to Alex Bregman and Michael Brantley to load the bases.
Correa (3-for-4 with a walk) followed with his hit to clinch the season and weekend series for the Astros, who will pursue the sweep behind ace Justin Verlander on Sunday.
The Red Sox rallied against Astros closer Roberto Osuna (3-0) in a blur, loading the bases in the ninth inning on just three pitches, on first-pitch singles from Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis before Jackie Bradley Jr. was hit by a first-pitch fastball. Two-pitches later, Christian Vazquez roped a two-run single into left field, and just like that, Boston erased a two-run deficit.
Osuna had to labor to preserve the tie, striking out pinch hitter Steve Pearce before getting Andrew Benintendi to pop out into foul territory down the third-base line. Osuna loaded the bases again with a walk to Mookie Betts but induced a weak comebacker from Mitch Moreland to end the inning and set the table for the bottom of the frame.
Astros right-hander Brad Peacock was in line for his fourth consecutive victory before the Red Sox mounted their late charge, working six scoreless innings before handing a 2-0 lead to his bullpen. After a wobbly start to his outing, Peacock retired the final nine batters he faced to close his ledger having allowed four hits and one walk with eight strikeouts.
He has surrendered one earned run on 12 hits and six walks with 32 strikeouts over his last four starts.
The Astros had to rally in the middle innings against the Boston bullpen after Red Sox starter David Price departed with flu-like symptoms having faced just three batters.
Houston took a 2-0 lead in the sixth when Josh Reddick and Tyler White notched run-scoring singles in succession against Red Sox relievers Travis Lakins and Heath Hembree, with White delivering a flare to shallow center field that just eluded the pursuing Chavis and scored Yuli Gurriel from third.
Gurriel added an RBI infield single an inning later, a hot shot that ricocheted off Moreland at first and scored Diaz for a 3-1 Astros lead.
--Field Level Media