Red Sox 9, Astros 4: It was the best of times, it was the worst of times

The Astros have proven this season that they have grown and matured as a baseball team, but games like tonight are none the less humbling.

It was the best of times, the Astros jumped out to a quick four run lead in Boston. The first of the runs was scored by Dexter Fowler as he scooted home on a Mike Napoli fielding error. Robbie Grossman would driving a second run in the next inning, singling home Marwin Gonzalez - who lead off with a double. Matt Dominguez proved his demise was greatly exaggerated with a two-run home run in the fourth. Again it was the best of times, the Astros lead 4-0. It's normally right about that time the bottom falls out.

Someone should have known this was on it's way, Mike Napoli by himself took 19 pitches in two at-bats against Feldman. These pitch count eating machines called the Red Sox devoured Feldman in his last outing against Boston (5.1 IP, 11 H, 7 ER, 119 NP). Yoenis Cespedes broke the seal on the Red Sox scoring in the fourth, hitting into a double to score Pedroia. Dustin Pedroia singled and went first to third on David Ortiz single.

Then in the sixth, the Red Sox sent 12 batters to bat - scoring seven runs. Brock Holt, Pedroia, and Ortiz leadoff the inning with sharp hits - one run was pushed across. Then Feldman couldn't get to the bag in time to complete a double play on Yoenis Cespedes to continue the inning. Napoli proceeded to single home another run. A walk and another single, another run was home. Feldman was gone.

Darin Downs would replace Feldman - he walk home a run, allow a sac fly, and issue a second walk. Michael Foltynewicz was brought in to end the bleeding with strikeout, Dustin Pedroia would welcome him with a slap down the line (that hit the chalk) in right for a ground-rule double. Folty would end the inning on a ground out.

No matter, the game was a loss. The Red Sox would add a ninth run and the Astros wouldn't be able to muster anything close to a comeback - it was the worst of times.