A little smash-talking
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 backto-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 safely in 20 of 28 postseason plate appearances.
Bradley hit a three-run double during Game 2 victory, giving him three RBIs Jackie Bradley Jr. celebrates with Brock Holt after hitting a grand slam during the Red Sox’s victory Tuesday night. Red Sox lead series 2-1 G1: Astros 7, Red Sox 2 G2: Red Sox 7, Astros 5 G3: Red Sox 8, Astros 2 G4: Red Sox (Porcello) 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. Sunday, TBS Games 6-7 if necessary in consecutive games for the first time in his career.
Red Sox ace Chris Sale returned to the team Tuesday in Houston after being hospitalized in Boston for a stomach illness.
Manager Alex Cora said Sale told him he was feeling “good enough.”
Cora also said Sale would work off the mound Wednesday before a decision was made on his status for Game 5 on Thursday.