Houston Astros vs Boston Red Sox Box Score on Sep 29, 2017

The Sports Xchange
Sep 29, 2017

BOSTON -- The Houston Astros kept Boston's champagne on ice and also kept their own hopes for home-field advantage throughout the American League playoffs alive with a 3-2 decision over the Red Sox on Friday night.

Houston's second straight win over the Red Sox kept Boston's magic number for clinching the American League East at one, with the New York Yankees winning earlier in the day to stay alive.

Still, one Boston win or one New York loss and the Red Sox have their second straight AL East title.

The Astros remained one game behind the Cleveland Indians for the league's best record, a deficit that was in reality two games because Cleveland owns the tiebreaker thanks to a 5-1 season series win.

Alex Bregman had an RBI single and two-run homer among his three hits and Charlie Morton (14-7) and four relievers combined on a four-hitter in Houston's fifth straight win. The Astros recorded their second 100-win season in franchise history.

Ken Giles pitched the ninth for his 34th save, yielding a two-out double to Hanley Ramirez before Rafael Devers grounded out to end it.

Ramirez grounded out with the bases loaded and two out in the sixth inning and is 0-for-9 on the season with the bases loaded and two out.

Doug Fister (5-9) took the loss for Boston.

Devers had an RBI double and Dustin Pedroia an RBI groundout for the Red Sox, who couldn't erase a three-run deficit.

Fister had allowed first-inning runs in seven consecutive starts and the Red Sox were guilty of the same in five straight and six of their last seven. And when the Astros put runners on second and third with nobody out in the first, it looked like it would happen again -- but Fister escaped and didn't fall behind until the third.

Derek Fisher opened the inning with a single and was on second with one out when Bregman singled him home. With two out in the fifth, Bregman connected for his 19th of the season.

Mitch Moreland became Boston's first baserunner with a one-out double and scored when Devers snapped an 0-for-15 with his double.

NOTES: Red Sox INF Eduardo Nunez, out with a knee injury, will run and take batting practice Sunday. "Today was my best day since I got hurt ... 100 percent I'll be ready for the playoffs," Nunez said Friday. ... Astros OF Josh Reddick left Boston on Friday to return to Houston for tests on his sore back. ... Boston C Christian Vazquez was scratched in favor of Sandy Leon. No official reason was given, but starter Doug Fister's numbers were better with Leon. ... Astros RHP Lance McCullers makes his second start since returning from his latest DL stint (arm fatigue) Saturday. LHP Drew Pomeranz was listed for Boston, but likely would have been skipped if the division was clinched Friday night. ... Astros manager A.J. Hinch won't start LHP Dallas Keuchel Sunday, going with RH Collin McHugh, so Boston doesn't see Keuchel twice in five days if the teams meet in the playoffs. ... 3B Michael Chavis and LH Jalen Beeks were named Boston's minor league player and pitcher of the year, respectively.