BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 6-1 win over the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on Sunday:
1) The Red Sox swept the three-game series against Houston to improve to 62-51 overall and 37-21 at Fenway Park.
2) Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito tossed 8 innings and allowed just one run, three hits and one walk while striking out four. His velocity was down early but increased as the game went along.
He threw 51 four-seam fastballs, topping out at 96.1 mph and averaging 92.8 mph (down from his 93.5 mph yearly average), per Statcast. He got nine swings and misses, including five with his slider.
He also mixed in 30 sliders, 17 changeups and five curveballs.
Giolito is not a morning person but threw a morning gem.
“It’s not very fun,” Giolito said. “Ever since I was a kid I would stay up super late reading and then it turned into super late playing video games. And I’ve just done that ever since. I like to say I prime myself for 7 p.m. being my locked in hours. But obviously you have to make an adjustment for a day like today.”
3) Roman Anthony began Boston’s six-run fourth inning rally by doubling to the opposite field against one of the game’s toughest left-handed pitchers. Left-handed hitters were batting just .205 with six doubles and one home run against Astros starter Framber Valdez entering Sunday.
4) Valdez didn’t help his own cause during the wild six-run fourth inning. He threw a wild pitch, balked in a run and made an error on a sac bunt that resulted in another run scoring. There also was a passed ball that initially had been ruled a wild pitch. He tossed 6 innings and allowed six runs, four earned runs, seven hits and one walk while striking out three.
5) Trevor Story stayed hot with two singles, including an RBI single against Valdez. He has nine hits in his past five games, including two four-hit games. The fourth inning rally also included Ceddanne Rafaela‘s RBI single, Connor Wong‘s RBI sac fly to right field and Rob Refsnyder‘s RBI groundout.
6) Carlos Correa, whom the Astros re-acquired at the trade deadline from the Twins, put Houston ahead 1-0 with a 411-foot, 109.1 mph home run in the fourth inning.
7) The Red Sox will welcome the Royals to town Monday. Righty Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19 ERA) will start for Boston opposite lefty Bailey Falter (7-5, 3.73 ERA). First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m.
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