Ramirez’s big day gives Boston reason to believe
BOSTON — Hanley Ramirez waved a “Believe in Boston” flag during pregame introductions, drawing cheers from a Fenway Park crowd fearful of a second straight postseason sweep.
Then he gave the Red Sox exactly what they wished for: more October baseball.
“I just tried to wake everybody up,” Ramirez said after delivering four hits and three RBIs to lead the American League East champions to a 10-3 victory Sunday over the Astros in Game 3 of the AL Division Series.
“I think that’s my job: find a way to come through in big situations. It’s the playoffs. It’s go time.”
Game 4 of the best-offive series is Monday in Boston. Astros righthander Charlie Morton will start against reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Rick Porcello.
Red Sox manager John Farrell noted that Ramirez vowed Saturday there would not be a second straight postseason sweep.
“You like any player (who) is willing to step up and speak and then (can) back it up,” Farrell said. “He had that energy. It was fantastic. He had a big day.”
David Price pitched four scoreless innings after another Red Sox starter faltered, and 20-year-old Rafael Devers hit the goahead homer to help the Sox snap a five-game postseason losing streak.
Mitch Moreland had three of the Red Sox’s 15 hits, which matched their combined total from Games 1 and 2, a pair of 8-2 losses. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit his first postseason homer, a three-run shot in a sixrun seventh that put the Game 1: Game 2: Game 3: Game 4: *Game 5: game away.
Things began ominously for the Red Sox, who fell behind in the first inning for the third straight time.
Carlos Correa homered for the Astros as they got up 3-0 and chased Red Sox starter Doug Fister after 11⁄3 innings. Reliever Joe Kelly retired George Springer before Josh Reddick hit a long fly ball to right field that Mookie Betts caught at the top of the short wall to end the second inning.
“It would have been a great spot for us to get another three runs and big momentum,” Reddick said. “And that seemed to be big momentum for those guys. I just wish the park was shorter.”