Boston Red Sox push Astros to the brink

THE Boston Red Sox are one win away from a World Series berth after a wild 8-6 victory over the reigning champion Houston Astros on Wednesday in the American League Championship Series.

The Red Sox took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, pushing last season’s winners to the brink of elimination in Houston in a game marked by a controversial denial of what might have been an Astros homer and yet another monster homer from Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr.

Boston seized the early initiative in the see-saw battle with two runs in the top of the first inning.

In the bottom of the frame, Houston’s Jose Altuve belted what looked to be a game-tying two-run homer to right field off Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello.

Outfielder Mookie Betts leapt at the wall but officials ruled that fans in the stands reached out and interfered with the play – a ruling that was upheld on review.

Astros manager AJ Hinch clearly thought it was a dubious call, but insisted it wasn’t the key to Houston’s defeat.

“It’s convenient to think of it that way, but there was a lot of game left,” Hinch said.

“There was a lot of action in that game. I’m not going to go there. It would have been nice to tie the game there, but it’s not the difference.”

Betts thought the call was spot-on, and he’d have made the catch if not for interference from the fan.

“He got it right,” Betts said. “I thought it was going in my glove for sure.”

‘Huge’ Dodgers victory

Game 5 was to be played on Thursday in Houston, where the Astros send ace Justin Verlander to the mound in a bid to keep their season alive.

The winner of the series will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase.

The Dodgers, beaten in seven games by the Astros in last year’s World Series, were one win away from a return trip after a 5-2 victory over the Brewers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.

Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who endured the shortest postseason outing of his career Los Angeles’ game one loss at Milwaukee last week, bounced back with seven s t el l ar innings.

He gave up one run on three hits, striking out nine and walking two and said heading back to Milwaukee with a 3-2 lead in the National League Championship Series was “huge”.