Astros 5, Red Sox 4: Jose Altuve and Astros walk off with sweep

In the final game of a three game series between the Astros and Red Sox, the Astros handed the ball to Lance McCullers with the sweep on the line and a chance to make up a game on the Angels.

McCullers did not have his best stuff in his first start of the second half.  He looked rusty to start the game as Mookie Betts opened the inning with a lead off double.  Betts would come around to score on an Ortiz single.

Marwin Gonzalez quickly answered for the Astros with a solo shot in bottom of the first.  Evan Gattis also had a hit in the first inning, but was picked off first by Red Sox starter Wade Miley.  Miley has one of the more impressive pickoff moves I have seen, and has a pretty strong track record with 18 runners picked off from 2012-2015.

Mike Napoli would regain the lead for the Red Sox with a solo shot to the Crawford Boxes in the top of the second inning.

Jose Altuve doubled with one out in the fifth, but was cut down at third trying to advance on a ball in the dirt (this marked the second out of the night on the base paths).

Neither starting pitcher had their best stuff as both McCullers and Miley struggled to find the zone.  McCullers only made it through 5 innings with 89 pitches and more walks than strikeouts.  Miley had five walks of his own, but the Astros failed to make him pay with only four hits in his six innings pitched.

The Astros made quick work of the bullpen in the bottom of the seventh.  Colby Rasmus got to Alexi Ogando with a solo shot to right field to start the scoring.  Altuve then collected his third hit of the night and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Next, Gonzalez built on an already big night with an RBI double to give the Astros the lead.  Unfortunately, Gonzalez got thrown out trying to stretch it to a triple, making three outs on the base paths for the Astros.  This one was made especially painful as Carlos Correa doubled in the next at bat.  Gattis finished the scoring with an RBI single to plate Correa.

The Red Sox would tie the game in the top of the eighth thanks to a solo shot by David Ortiz and an RBI double by Mike Napoli on a ball that Preston Tucker appeared to misjudge in left field.  The Astros went down in order in the bottom half of the inning sending the game to the ninth tied 4-4.

And then ALTUVE happened!!!!  With one out in the ninth and the game tied, Altuve launched his ninth home run of the year to end the game.  Altuve finished with four hits, including a double and a home run to go along with a stolen base, two runs, and an RBI.

The Astros now head to Kansas City for a three game series with the Royals.  Newly acquired starting pitcher Scott Kazmir is projected to start tomorrow night's game.