The Red Sox avoided the sweep Thursday with their 5-1 win over the Astros. Here’s a recap:
- Perez goes into eighth inning: Martin Perez went into the eighth, getting two outs but would walk Aledmys Diaz – Cora brought in Ottavino to finish the inning, which he did. Perez would finish the day allowing no runs off six hits, a walk and four strikeouts through 7.2 innings.
- Christian Arroyo hits three-run big fly: With Hunter Renfroe on third after he walked, and Rafael Devers on second after doubling, Christian Arroyo lifted a ball barely over the left field wall 339 feet for his first home run of the season to make it 3-0 in the second. The ball would not have gone out at any other park and had an expected batting average of .020, but a home run is a home run.
- Xander Bogaerts ends 0-for-24 slump: With two men on in the seventh, Xander Bogaerts socked a double into left field for a two-RBI hit, ending his streak of being in his last 24 at-bats, and gave the Red Sox the 5-0 lead.
- Brandon Workman shuts the door in ninth: Brandon Workman, who was called up prior to today’s contest, was brought in for the ninth. He allowed a solo homer to Yuli Gurriel, but was able to shut the gates and capture the Red Sox’ 33rd win of the season, as well as avoid the sweep of Houston.
- What’s next? The Red Sox travel to the Bronx for a pivotal three-game weekend set against the Yanks. The Yankees sit 2.5 games behind the Red Sox, at 31-26 while the Red Sox sit at 33-23, and the division-leading Rays sit at 36-22.
Photo: Christian Arroyo watches his three-run homer in the second inning David J. Phillip/Associated Press