‘Special’ deliveries
Eovaldi, Bradley lift Red Sox to win, 2-1 lead in series
HOUSTON — Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a grand slam, Nathan Eovaldi hushed Houston a day after some social media trash talk and the Red Sox beat the Astros 8-2 on Tuesday to take a 2-1 lead in the AL Championship Series.
Steve Pearce hit a tiebreaking solo homer for the Red Sox off Joe Smith in the sixth inning for a 3-2 lead.
Bradley’s slam capped a five-run burst in the eighth against Roberto Osuna. The Astros closer got two outs but allowed two singles and plunked consecutive batters to force in a run. Bradley then crushed a 1-1 fastball into the right field seats to send Astros fans streaming toward the exits.
With his childhood hero and fellow Alvin, Texas, native Nolan Ryan sitting behind the plate, Eovaldi allowed six hits and two runs with four strikeouts in six innings for the victory.
“For him, I know it’s a special one,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said.
Red-hot slugger Alex Bregman had shared a video Monday on Instagram of the Astros hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs off Eovaldi in June. Eovaldi downplayed the post when asked about it Monday.
Bregman did much of the damage against Eovaldi, getting two hits, an RBI and a walk in three plate appearances. Bregman has reached base safely in 20 of 28 plate appearances this postseason.
Bradley hit a three-run double during Game 2 victory, giving him three RBIs in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Sale’s status unclear: Red Sox ace Chris Sale rejoined the team Tuesday in Houston a day after being released from a Boston hospital following a stomach illness.
Sale started the series opener Saturday and was slated to start Game 5 on Thursday in Houston, but his status for the game was unclear.