The Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox 7-6 on Monday night inside Daikin Park. The night featured multiple returns to Houston, one return to the mound, and an exciting finish.
HOW IT HAPPENED:
In an emotional night, each team had a player making their return to Houston. Carlos Correa took to the field for the first time back in Houston after his trade from the Minnesota Twins at the deadline. On the other side, Alex Bregman played in Daikin Park for the first time as a member of an opposing team.
Additionally, the Astros turned to Cristian Javier on the mound, making his first start in 14 months. He allowed a leadoff baserunner, and then Bregman made his homecoming worth-while. He launched a pitch into the Crawford Boxes and promptly gave the Red Sox a 2-0 lead.
Garrett Crochet went for the Red Sox. And he got off to a strong start. He retired the side without allowing a run, including getting Correa out in his first at-bat back in Houston.
In the bottom of the third, however, Correa gave the crowd something to cheer about in his return. He laced an RBI single to right field giving the Astros their first run and cutting the lead in half. Before the inning concluded, Christian Walker came through with a clutch two-run double, giving the Astros a 3-2 lead.
Javier was able to settle in a bit, and the Astros played add-on in the fourth. Chas McCormick hit his long-awaited first home run of the season, a two-run shot giving Houston a 5-2 advantage.
Later on, the Astros would get two more when Ramon Urias hit his first homer as an Astro, making it 7-2.
That lead would quickly evaporate as the Red Sox got four runs in the seventh, capped by a two-run Roman Anthony homer.
With the Astros bullpen having been taxed over the weekend, Bryan Abreu and Josh Hader were unavailable. The Astros turned to Enyel de Los Santos and Bennett Sousa, with those two combining for scoreless work and closing out the win.
BIG NUMBER: 1
The return of number one Carlos Correa gave the Astros a boost and helped them in a big win. Correa went 1-4 at the plate.
PLAYER OF THE GAME: Cristian Javier
After giving up two runs before he recorded an out, Javier worked five scoreless frames. His return to the mound was much needed, and Houston will look to build on his performance.
UP NEXT: The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at 7:10 PM. The game can be heard on ESPN 103.7 Lafayette 104.1 Lake Charles.