Rally In 9th Falls Short
Rodriguez Roughed Up
BOSTON — The Houston Astros — and a large number of their boisterous fans — have come into Fenway Park this weekend and given the Red Sox much to think about, if not be concerned with.
The Red Sox’s gaudy record has looked meaningless through two games against the defending World Series champions.
The Astros beat the Sox again on Saturday, 5-3, before a sellout crowd of 36,684.
After leaving eight runners on base in the first eight innings, the Sox rallied in the ninth against Houston closer Roberto Osuna.
Pinch hitter Blake Swihart dropped a single into shallow left field. Mookie Betts then walked. After a wild pitch, Andrew Benintendi drove in a run with a single to left.
With the Red Sox fans roaring, J.D. Martinez grounded into a double play to end the game.
The Sox were 3 of 13 with
runners in scoring position.
Now the Red Sox turn to Rick Porcello on Sunday night, hoping to avoid being swept at home for the first time this season. He will face Dallas Keuchel in a matchup of former Cy Young Award winners.
The Astros have won seven straight and 14 of their last 17.
Xander Bogaerts was 3-for-4 with a home run and two RBI for the Sox.
Eduardo Rodriguez retired the side in order in the first inning, striking out George Springer and Jose Altuve.
He then struck out Yuli Gurriel to open the second inning and it appeared the lefthander was heading for another impressive start.
But nine of the next 15 batters reached base as Rodriguez allowed five runs on six hits and three walks.
Carlos Correa doubled in the second inning and scored on a triple off the wall in center by Tyler White. Jake Marisnick’s sacrifice fly gave the Astros a 2-1 lead.
Alex Bregman continued his hot streak with a home run to left field in the third inning. Martin Maldonado then homered in the fourth. When Rodriguez walked Springer, Sox manager Alex Cora came out of the dugout in a hurry to take him out of the game.
With Brandon Workman on the mound, Springer went first to third on a single by Altuve and scored on Gurriel’s sacrifice fly.
Rodriguez (12-4) has allowed 10 runs on 12 hits over five innings in his last two starts against Houston, both coming at Fenway Park.
In his first game following a brief stay on the disabled list with shoulder pain, Charlie Morton (14-3) held the Red Sox to two runs over five innings.
Singles by Betts, Benintendi and Bogaerts gave the Sox a 1-0 lead four batters into the bottom of the first inning.
But Morton ended the threat. Springer made a diving grab to catch a softly hit ball to right field by Mitch Moreland. Ian Kinsler then grounded to third.
Leaving runners on base proved to be a game-long issue for the Sox.
After stranding two runners in the third inning, the Sox loaded the bases with two outs in the fourth. Benintendi sent a ball to the gap in left that had a chance to scrape the wall but Marisnick ran it down.
Bogaerts homered to left field in the fifth inning. He has 21 home runs and 92 RBI on the season, both career bests.