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What Happened
If you could ever say a team "eked out" a four run win this was that game. Riding a four game win streak into Boston the Astros sent out AAA call-up Dan Straily to start the road trip. The Sox got to him in the second inning for 2 runs, but Houston came back to put a five-spot on the board in the fourth inning. In that inning Jason Castro and Preston Tucker had big RBI doubles and Alex Presley had an RBI single in his first game on the roster replacing George Springer. Straily couldn't hold the lead in the fifth inning as he gave up a walk, a couple of hits, and an error on Jose Altuve where he hit David Ortiz in the head with a throw trying to turn a double play. Straily came out after 4 2/3 innings after striking out 7, but allowing three walks and five runs.
From here on out it really got interesting. In the top of the seventh the Astros retook the lead when Altuve hit a 2-out, 2 RBI single to put them up 7-5. In the bottom of the inning the Sox tied it up after Josh Fields loaded the bases without getting an out (and allowing two walks), then Pablo Sandoval and Alejandro De Aza drove in a run apiece. In the eighth Carlos Correa started the inning off with a home run over the Green Monster to retake the lead 8-7. Once again the Red Sox came back and tied it on a double off the Monster by Ortiz.
After an uneventful ninth inning, Boston brought in Noe Ramirez for his major league debut. His second pitch of his big league career hit Altuve in the elbow to put him at first. Tucker followed by hitting a line drive right between the legs of first baseman Mike Napoli. Correa continued his great night by driving in Altuve with a base hit to left. After Domingo Santana got on with an infield single, Jon Singleton drove in two more with a single to right. They tacked on one more on a double steal with Singleton taking second base, and Santana coming home on the throw to second.
Luke Gregerson came in for the bottom of the tenth, representing the last bullpen arm of the night. He pitched a 1-2-3 inning to pick up a not-save on the inning, but the way this night was going I think he deserves the save. These two teams will celebrate our nation's birthday with an afternoon game tomorrow. Colin McHugh will go for his 10th win against Clay Buchholtz at 12:30.
Fun Facts
The Astros had five players with multi-hit nights: Correa and Altuve with 3 each, and Tucker, Presley and Evan Gattis with 2 apiece.
Correa and Altuve are both batting .300 or better after tonight's game.
Some fun with numbers on the field in the 7th inning tonight, as Hanley Ramirez walked but had no idea what the count was. He had to be told to take his base. Then later on when Chris Carter got the 3rd out at 1B he threw to third and got a 4th out on De Aza. De Aza was hot and was calling for the replay on the tag. He had to be talked down by the 3B coach who explained there were already 3 outs.
Tweets of the Night
Just like they drew it up...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">"You distract them at second, I'll steal home." – Domingo Santana, we assume. <a href="http://t.co/G1UiE0G3y3">http://t.co/G1UiE0G3y3</a> <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/StealAHome?src=hash">#StealAHome</a> <a href="http://t.co/DYUlgC7JMp">pic.twitter.com/DYUlgC7JMp</a></p>— MLB (@MLB) <a href="https://twitter.com/MLB/status/617187368026509312">July 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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After the Correa homer...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Even Caroline thought that was Sweet...........I'll see myself out <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/Astros?src=hash">#Astros</a></p>— Daniel Gotera (@DTGoteraKHOU) <a href="https://twitter.com/DTGoteraKHOU/status/617159626128289792">July 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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Sharing is big in the clubhouse...
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet" lang="en"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Astros had 10 different players score runs for the second time this season. No other AL team has done that once.</p>— Brian McTaggart ⚾️ (@brianmctaggart) <a href="https://twitter.com/brianmctaggart/status/617190153593995264">July 4, 2015</a></blockquote>
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