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The Red Sox finished the night with four homers while taking a
2-1 lead in the best-of-seven series.
"We're playing good baseball," said Boston's Alex Cora, whose
managerial record improved to 17-5 in the postseason.
"Offensively, this is the best we've been the whole season, and
they're locked in right now."
Schwarber's second-inning slam into the right field bleachers
off Astros starter Jose Urquidy (0-1) capped a six-run inning
and sent the Fenway Park faithful into a frenzy.
Boston became the first team with three grand slams in the same
postseason series. J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers each hit one
in the Red Sox's 9-5 win at Houston in Game 2 on Saturday.
"It's been fantastic," Schwarber said of Boston's offense. "Ever
since the playoffs started, I felt like we've done a really good
job collectively as a group."
Christian Arroyo added a two-run blast in the fourth for Boston,
which jumped out to a 9-0 lead for the second straight game.
"It's tough to come back when obviously the first two innings
they score eight or nine runs," said Astros shortstop Carlos
Correa, who went 0-for-4. "It's just tough to come back from
those games against great teams."
Urquidy gave up six of those runs (five earned) in just 1 2/3
innings, bloating the ERA of Houston's three starters in the
series to 20.25.
"I have nothing to say. That was a bad day," Urquidy said. "We
are good. We're early in the series. We're hoping to win
tomorrow to tie the series and bring home the series (to
Houston)."
Arroyo (three RBIs) and Martinez (2-for-3) each had two-run
homers on Monday, Devers added a solo blast and Christian
Vazquez (2-for-4) had a pair of RBIs for the Red Sox.
Boston starter Eduardo Rodriguez (1-0) allowed three runs on
five hits and no walks while striking out seven over six
innings.
Game 3 winners when the ALCS was tied at one game apiece have
gone on to win the series 78 percent (18 of 23) of the time.
Game 4 is Tuesday night in Boston.
Kyle Tucker hit a three-run homer to account for the only
Houston offense.
Vazquez's bases-loaded single plated Boston's first run with one
out in the second before Arroyo reached on a fielding error by
Astros second baseman Jose Altuve. One run scored on the miscue,
and the bases remained loaded for leadoff hitter Schwarber, who
socked a 3-0 pitch.
Hunter Renfroe walked with one out in the Boston third and
advanced to third after his steal of second coaxed a Martin
Maldonado throw into center. Vazquez singled him home before
Arroyo belted a pitch into the Green Monster seats in left.
Tucker's third postseason home run of the year, in the fourth
off Rodriguez, cut Houston's deficit to 9-3. Martinez got two
runs back for Boston on his third playoff homer in the sixth,
and Devers belted his fourth long ball of the postseason in the
eighth.
--Gethin Coolbaugh, Field Level Media
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