The Boston Red Sox evened the ALCS at 1-1 by defeating the Houston Astros 7-5 in Game 2 at Fenway Park on Sunday night, becoming the first team in 2018 to score five runs on Gerrit Cole. Jackie Bradley Jr. provided the decisive blow with a two-out, bases-loaded double in the third inning, and Mookie Betts accounted for two late insurance run by scoring on a passed ball in the seventh and then doubling home Rafael Devers in the eighth.
Boston starter David Price was not at his best, but the Red Sox bullpen shut Houston down in the middle and late innings. For the Astros, it was their first loss of the 2018 postseason.
Here's what you need to know about Game 2.
The Boston bullpen came through
The Red Sox's bullpen was expected to be a weak spot in this series, and indeed that's how things looked in Game 1. In Game 2, however, the Boston relief corps made the big difference. In all, three Boston relievers -- Matt Barnes, Ryan Brasier, and Rick Porcello -- combined to shut out the Astros and keep them hitless for 4 1/3 innings. Closer Craig Kimbrel earned the save, but he did allow a run in the ninth and showed signs of ongoing command issues. Coming into Game 2, the Astros in the 2018 postseason had outscored their opponents 18-1 (!) from the seventh inning onward. Red Sox relievers, though, would have none of that on Sunday night.
Price struggled again
You know about Price's postseason reputation. Even though he's authored a number of playoff starts that range from adequate to downright good, there's no denying the overall numbers -- 5.54 postseason ERA after his Game 2 start and a 10.06 postseason ERA as a member of the Red Sox.
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