BOSTON — The Astros’ beleaguered pitching staff did its job Tuesday night, holding the Red Sox scoreless after a first-inning homer by Xander Bogaerts gave Boston the lead. All the Astros needed was a way to finally come through with some clutch hits on offense. They came in bunches.
Houston erupted for seven runs in the ninth inning — including four against Red Sox ace pitcher Nathan Eovaldi, who was pitching in relief — to stun the Red Sox on Tuesday night at Fenway Park with a 9-2 win in Game 4 that tied the American League Championship Series at two wins apiece.
In all best-of-seven postseason series that have been tied after four games, the Game 5 winner has gone on to win the series 44 of 63 times (70 percent). Game 5 is set for Wednesday at Fenway Park.
Tied at 2 in the ninth, Jason Castro came through with the biggest hit of his career by ripping a 2-2 pitch from Eovaldi into right field to score Carlos Correa, and Michael Brantley added a three-run double later in the inning off Martín Pérez. The Astros poured it on from there with their biggest inning in their history in the playoffs.
Jose Altuve got Houston’s rally started with a game-tying homer off of right-hander Garrett Whitlock to lead off the eighth inning. It was his 21st career postseason home run, putting him third all time behind Manny Ramírez (29) and Bernie Williams (22).