Astros’ Bregman takes poke at Red Sox, Eovaldi
Alex Bregman and the Houston Astros are brimming with confidence, even after a Game 2 AL Championship Series defeat to the Boston Red Sox.
Hours after Boston beat Houston 7-5 to even the best-of-seven series at a game each, Bregman shared video Monday on Instagram of the Astros hitting back-to-back-to-back home runs against Game 3 Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi from a game in June.
“Lil pregame video work,” he wrote.
Eovaldi will oppose Dallas Keuchel in Houston tonight after Rick Porcello was used in relief during Game 2, when the Astros took their first loss of the postseason. Eovaldi’s previous start against the Astros didn’t go well. The righthander allowed seven hits and four runs in a 5-1 loss June 20 while with Tampa Bay, including a seasonhigh four homers.
Three of those were hit in succession by George Springer, Bregman and Jose Altuve in the sixth inning.
The Astros didn’t work out Monday, so the brazen 24-year-old Bregman wasn’t available to reporters. Plenty of others weighed in, though, including Astros manager AJ Hinch. He had no issue with the online barb.
“Welcome to the current generation,” Hinch said. “Obviously there’s fun banter . ... We want guys to have their personalities, have their fun. Then go out and back it up.”
Eovaldi didn’t seem bothered by the video, saying he doesn’t have social media but some of his teammates told him about it.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who is close with Bregman from his time as Houston’s bench coach last season, brushed off the notion that Bregman’s video could provide an added push for his team Tuesday.
“If you need motivation in Game 3 of the ALCS, you better check yourself,” he said. “Because you win three more games, you go to the show, and that’s what should motivate you. Alex has different ways of motivating himself. And whatever. I’ll leave it at that.”
This will be Keuchel’s ninth postseason start and first since allowing four hits and two runs in five innings of Houston’s 11-3 win over the Indians in Game 3 of the Division Series on Oct. 8.
Eovaldi made his postseason debut in Game 3 of this year’s ALDS against the New York Yankees, yielding five hits and one run in seven innings of the 16-1 victory.
• The Red Sox got good news when ace Chris Sale was released from a hospital after an overnight stay because of a stomach illness. He was scheduled to join Boston in Houston, and Cora said they’d decide when he’d pitch again after that.
BRAVES’ SNITKER GETS EXTENSION >> Braves manager Brian Snitker agreed to a two-year contract extension after guiding Atlanta to the NL East title and its first playoff berth since 2013. The deal includes a club option for 2021.
Snitker, who turns 63 on Wednesday, was appointed interim manager in May 2016 after the firing of Freddie Gonzalez. He will be heading into his third full season as the club’s manager and 43rd as a member of the organization. When Snitker took over the Braves, he was the fourtholdest rookie manager in baseball history. He has been with the organization since 1977, spending four seasons as a minor league catcher and first baseman before moving into coaching.