BOSTON (WPRI) — After bashing Houston Astros pitching for 21 runs over the past two games, the Boston Red Sox will look to keep the hit parade rolling in Tuesday night’s Game 4 of the American League Championship Series.
Boston’s 12-3 win Monday gave them a 2-1 lead over Houston, meaning a win Tuesday would put them in position to close out the best-of-seven series at Fenway Park on Wednesday.
The Red Sox are expected to send right-hander Nick Pivetta to the hill, who hasn’t pitched since throwing four innings of scoreless relief in last week’s 13-inning marathon Game 3 of the ALDS against the Tampa Bay Rays. Pivetta notched seven strikeouts and earned the win.
The Astros are slated to call on former Cy Young Award winner Zack Greinke who, if the postseason so far is any indication, has his work cut out for him.
Among this year’s playoff teams, the Red Sox are leading in nearly every offensive category, some of which by a long shot. As a team, the Sox are hitting .317 across the entire postseason with 95 hits, 57 runs scored, 20 home runs, and 170 total bases.
By way of comparison, the Astros, who have played one fewer game than the Red Sox, are hitting .271 with 64 hits, 44 runs, 9 home runs, and 100 total bases.
The Sox seem to be thriving in front of the raucous hometown crowd.
“These are moments that you’re never going to forget as a player,” first baseman Kyle Schwarber said. “This is what we live for. We live to be in the postseason. When you get that first taste … you want more. It’s an addicting feeling. Especially in this place, where it’s rocking the whole time.”
Fired-up Red Sox fans flooded Fenway Park Tuesday hoping hometown luck would be on their side.
“[I’m hoping] that we get another 12 runs tonight like last night and three grand slams,” said John Russo of Vernon, Conn. “Top the past two days, you know?”
For Russo and his son, this was their first game at Fenway in 10 years.
“I think it’s the best team they’ve ever had. We’ve been watching the Red Sox forever. Lifelong Red Sox fans,” said Russo.
Some are such diehard baseball fans that they traveled all the way from Houston for the playoffs.
But not all of them are rooting for the Astros.
“It’s a divided house,” said John Torres, who’s cheering on the Astros. His wife, Elizabeth, is a Red Sox fan.
“They’re mad, which is understandable, because we’re winning,” Elizabeth said.
John put their differences aside for love, buying Elizabeth a Red Sox jersey to honor her father, a Rhode Island native, who passed away in 2016.
“When [John] came in 2017, he got me a jersey with my father’s last name on the back, so I’ve got to root for my dad.”
He also promised her if their teams made it to the playoffs, they’d make the trip from Texas to Massachusetts.
“We were watching the ALDS and I told her, you know what, if the Red Sox make it and the Astros make it, we’ll go. I didn’t think the Red Sox were gonna make it! And now I didn’t think the Red Sox would be beating us and they’re doing it handedly … it’s so bad,” he said.
The first pitch is scheduled for 8:08 p.m.
Those heading to Boston should expect dry and breezy conditions, but not as chilly, with temperatures in the mid to upper 50s, according to Chief Meteorologist Tony Petrarca.