HOUSTON – JD Martinez and Rafael Devers helped the Red Sox have a great time in Houston.
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Boston became the first team to hit two grand slams in a postseason game, courtesy of Martinez and Devers in the first two innings. The Red Sox beat the Astros 9-5 on Saturday night to equal a win per side in the American League Championship Series.
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Martinez put the score 4-0 with his club to the opposite field against rookie Luis García, when there were two outs in the first inning. It was the first grand slam in the playoffs by the four-time All-Star player who began his career with the Astros.
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Garcia left with a sore right knee after walking his first opponent in the second inning. Jake Odorizzi took the mound and, after a 13-minute interruption while the right-hander warmed up, Devers hit him for the second grand slam of the match, with one out.
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“JD’s swing was tremendous, to put us on the board early. Then Raffy did the same, another grand slam,” said his teammate Kiké Hernández, who has also been on fire with the bat. “Has this happened before?”
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Game 3 is scheduled for Monday night in Boston. It will be the first of three straight home games for the Red Sox, who have not played in the playoffs since 2018, when they won the World Series after eliminating Houston in the Championship Series.
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Alex Cora, Boston’s manager, said his fellow Puerto Rican Hernandez is “on fire,” like this in Spanish, after he hit two home runs in the first game.
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The flame did not go out on Saturday. Hernandez had two hits, including a home run in the fourth inning.
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He has been the hottest hitter in these playoffs, leading all players with 16 hits, five home runs and four doubles.
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His nine extrabses also represent the most in these playoffs and equaled a postseason record for the Red Sox, shared by Mike Lowell (2007), Kevin Youkilis (2007) and David Ortiz (2004 and 2007).
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“The importance of the game allows me to stay focused,” Hernandez said.
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Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi allowed five hits and three runs in 5 1/3 innings.
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For the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Hernández 4-2 with two runs scored and one RBI, Christian Vázquez 1-0. Dominican Devers 4-1 with two runs scored and four produced. Mexican Alex Verdugo 4-2 with one scored.
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For the Astros, the Venezuelan José Altuve 5-0. The Cubans Yordan Álvarez 3-1 with one scored, Yuli Gurriel 4-2 with one scored and three produced, Aledmys Díaz 1-0. Puerto Ricans Carlos Correa 4-1 with a scored, Martín Maldonado 2-0.
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