HOUSTON — Andrew Benintendi’s glove and Jackie Bradley Jr.’s bat have put the Boston Red Sox in an enviable position.
Bradley hit a two-run home run in the top of the sixth inning to give the Astros a 6-5 lead, and the Red Sox had to fight off threats in the eighth and ninth innings to defeat the Astros 8-6 and take a 3-1 lead in the American League Championship Series. The Red Sox will have three tries to clinch, starting tonight at 7 p.m. in Houston.
The Astros loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth inning off of three walks by Boston closer Craig Kimbrel. With two outs, the Astros’ Alex Bregman stepped to the plate.
On the first pitch he saw, Bregman lined a 97 mph fastball into left field. With the ball quickly descending toward the turf, Benintendi (Arkansas Razorbacks) dove head first to come up with the catch and save the victory. Benintendi also was 2 for 5 with 2 doubles and 2 runs scored.
In the eighth inning, the first three batters reached for the Astros, although leadoff hitter Tony Kemp was thrown out at second base for the first out. Bregman was then hit, and George Springer doubled with one out. But the Astros managed only one run on Jose Altuve’s ground out to leave them behind 8-6.
