The Atlanta Journal-Constitution
Bradley's slam puts Sox up in ALCS
HOUSTON — Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a grand slam, Nathan Eovaldi hushed Houston a day after some social media trash talk and the Boston 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 Boston off Joe Smith in the sixth inning, a drive that sailed just inside the foul pole in left field 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 Houston fans streaming toward the exits.
Game 4 is tonight, with Boston’s Rick Porcello opposing Charlie Morton.
With his childhood hero and fellow Alvin, Texas, native Nolan Ryan sitting behind the plate, Eovaldi turned in another solid start. Red-hot slugger Alex Bregman had shared video Monday on Instagram of Houston hitting back-to-back-toback home runs off Eovaldi in his previous outing against the Astros.
Sale back with Sox: The Boston Red Sox were still unsure Tuesday when Chris Sale would be available to pitch again, but the lefty ace was back with the team for Game 3 of the AL Champi- onship Series.
When players for both teams were introduced before the first series game in Houston, Sale lined up with the Red Sox along the third-base line. Sale started the series opener but missed Game 2 and didn’t travel with the team after being hospitalized for a stomach illness.
Speaking earlier, Boston manager Alex Cora said Sale would go to the training room when he arrived.
“I don’t know how he feels, if he feels weak or whatever. But we’ll know,” Cora said then.
Sale, the potential Red Sox starter for Game 5 on Thurs- day night, was released Monday from Massachusetts Gen- eral Hospital. He was hos- pitalized Sunday night for observation for what the team has called a stomach illness. The team hasn’t specified the ailment or treatment. The manager said it was nothing serious.