Bradley’s slam gives Sox win

Sports shorts

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 Oct. 17, with Boston’s Rick Porcello opposing Charlie Morton.

College football

LOUISVILLE PLAYER CHARGED » Louisville football player Kemari Averett was charged Tuesday with putting a gun to his girlfriend’s head and threatening to kill her. He has been suspended by the team.

The 20-year-old sophomore remains in Louisville Metro jail on $10,000 bond after pleading not guilty and faces an Oct. 26 hearing. University police charged him with firstdegree wanton endangerment and fourth-degree assault.

IOWA STATE TO APPEAL» Iowa State President Wendy Wintersteen said the university will appeal a $25,000 fine levied by the Big 12 Conference for violating postgame celebration policies when fans stormed the field following a home win over West Virginia last weekend.

The league told Iowa State that Commissioner Bob Bowlsby had determined university officers did not take the “appropriate precautions to create a safe environment” for the Mountaineers.

West Virginia coach Dana Holgorsen was critical of school efforts, calling the scene “unprofessional” and suggesting his players were not in a “safe place.”

Gymnastics

GYMNASTICS HEAD STEPS DOWN » When former California Congresswoman Mary Bono took over as the interim president for USA Gymnastics last week, she pointed to the opportunity to “reconnect” with a sport she loved.

But Bono stepped down Tuesday, saying she felt her affiliation with the embattled organization would be a “liability” after a social media post by Bono criticizing Nike and former San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick drew widespread scrutiny within the gymnastics community.