Red Sox get on board
Win evens series, ends playoff futility streak for Price
BOSTON — David Price was good enough, the bullpen was even better, and Jackie Bradley Jr. delivered a go-ahead, threerun double off the Green Monster on Sunday night to lead the Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the Astros, tying the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.
Price fell one out short of his first career postseason win as a starter but still went back to the winning clubhouse for the first time in 11 playoff starts.
Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel gave up an RBI single to Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth before Alex Bregman hit a fly ball that was caught on the warning track in left field to end it, handing the Astros their first loss in five playoff games this year.
Game 3 is Tuesday in Houston, followed by two more at Minute Maid Park and a chance for the defending World Series champion Astros to clinch a second straight AL pennant at home.
Price was spotted a tworun lead in the first inning and then fell behind 4-2 before Bradley clanged one off the Monster.
Price left with a 5-4 lead after walking Tyler White on four pitches with two outs in the fifth, his second walk of the inning.
Matt Barnes struck out Marwin Gonzalez to end the inning and then pitched a perfect sixth to earn the victory. Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning and erstwhile starter Rick Porcello set the Astros Red Sox starter David Price, who gave up four runs in 42⁄ innings, coughs up an early two-run lead in the second. Series tied 1-1 G1: Astros 7, Red Sox 2 G2: Red Sox 7, Astros 5 G3: Red Sox (TBA) at Astros (Keuchel) 5:09 p.m. Tuesday, TBS G4: Red Sox (TBA) at Astros (Morton) 8:39 p.m. Wednesday, TBS G5: Red Sox at Astros 8:09 p.m. Thursday, TBS G6: Astros at Red Sox 5:09 p.m. Saturday, TBS G7: Astros at Red Sox 7:39 p.m. Oct. 21, TBS Games 6-7 if necessary down 1-2-3 in the eighth.
Kimbrel retired the first two batters in the ninth before George Springer hit his second double of the game. Altuve followed with a drive off the left-field wall, stopping at first when he slipped rounding the bag.
Bregman then launched his high fly to left that Andrew Benintendi caught a step in front of the Monster.