2018 American League Championship Series
2018 American League Championship Series | ||
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TBS | ||
TV announcers | Brian Anderson, Ron Darling and Lauren Shehadi | |
Radio | ESPN | |
Radio announcers | Jon Sciambi and Jessica Mendoza | |
ALDS |
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The 2018 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series pitting the
For the second year in a row, Major League Baseball sold presenting sponsorships to all of its postseason series; as with the NLCS, this ALCS was sponsored by Google Assistant and was officially known as the American League Championship Series presented by Google Assistant.[2]
The Red Sox would go on to defeat the Los Angeles Dodgers in the World Series in five games to win their ninth World Series championship.
Background
The Astros won the American League West division with a record of 103–59, then swept the Cleveland Indians in the American League Division Series. This was the Astros' sixth League Championship Series and second in the American League, their prior AL appearance being a 2017 ALCS win over the New York Yankees in seven games. Houston also appeared in four NLCS, winning once and losing thrice, before joining the American League in 2013.
The Red Sox won the American League East division with a record of 108–54, then defeated the New York Yankees in the American League Division Series, 3–1. This was Boston's 11th ALCS. They had a prior record of 5–5 in those series, most recently winning in 2013 and most recently losing in 2008.
The 2018 ALCS was just the 12th postseason match-up to feature two teams with 100 wins, though the third since the 2017 World Series. The 211 combined regular season wins for both teams was the second-most of any postseason series ever, just behind the 1998 World Series. It was also the first ALCS to feature two 100-win teams since 1977,[3] when the New York Yankees (100–62) defeated the Kansas City Royals (102–60).
Boston and Houston had met once before in the postseason, with the Astros winning the
Team statistics
For the 2018 regular season.[4][5]
Stat | Boston (MLB rank) | Houston (MLB rank) | Type |
---|---|---|---|
Batting average | .268 (1st) | .255 (7th) | Batting |
OPS | .792 (1st) | .754 (7th) | |
Home runs | 208 (9th) | 205 (10th) | |
ERA | 3.75 (8th) | 3.11 (1st) | Pitching |
Strikeouts | 1,558 (4th) | 1,687 (1st) | |
BAA | .237 (8th) | .217 (1st) |
Summary
Boston won the series, 4–1.
Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | October 13 | Houston Astros – 7, Boston Red Sox – 2 | Fenway Park | 4:03 | 38,007[6] |
2 | October 14 | Houston Astros – 5, Boston Red Sox – 7 | Fenway Park | 3:45 | 37,960[7] |
3 | October 16 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 2 | Minute Maid Park | 3:52 | 43,102[8] |
4 | October 17 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 6 | Minute Maid Park | 4:33 | 43,277[9] |
5 | October 18 | Boston Red Sox – 4, Houston Astros – 1 | Minute Maid Park | 3:32 | 43,210[10] |
Game summaries
Game 1
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Justin Verlander (1–0) LP: Joe Kelly (0–1) Home runs: HOU: Josh Reddick (1), Yuli Gurriel (1) BOS: None Attendance: 38,007 Boxscore |
Three time All-Star and two time World Series Champion Kevin Youkilis threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Red Sox. The Astros struck first on a George Springer two-run single in the top of the second off of an erratic Chris Sale, eventually ending Sale's night after four innings. Verlander cruised through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth, walking Mitch Moreland with the bases loaded and allowing Jackie Bradley Jr. to score on a wild pitch to even the score at two. Verlander struck out Andrew Benintendi on a controversial called strike that resulted in Red Sox manager Alex Cora getting ejected in between innings. The Astros responded in the top of the sixth with a two-out RBI single by Carlos Correa after Joe Kelly hit Alex Bregman with a pitch and Yuli Gurriel reached on a fielding error by Eduardo Núñez. Verlander came back to retire the side in order in the sixth. The Astros and Red Sox would trade zeroes until the top of the ninth inning which was led off by a Josh Reddick home run off of Brandon Workman. Workman then, after getting an out, walked José Altuve and Alex Bregman before Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run home run to blow the game open at 7–2. The Red Sox ended the night having walked 10 Astros hitters and hitting three more. Collin McHugh came in to finish the game off and give the Astros a loud 1–0 lead in the series.
Game 2
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
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Houston | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Boston | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Matt Barnes (1–0) LP: Gerrit Cole (0–1) Sv: Craig Kimbrel (1) Home runs: HOU: Marwin González (1) BOS: None Attendance: 37,960 Boxscore |
Jonny Gomes, a member of the 2013 World Series champion Red Sox, threw the ceremonial first pitch.[11] Mookie Betts doubled off Gerrit Cole and Andrew Benintendi singled him home to open the scoring for the Red Sox. Xander Bogaerts reached second on Cole's throwing error with one out in the first, then Rafael Devers singled home Benintendi for a 2–0 lead. Starting pitcher David Price allowed the Astros to get on the board in the second as Carlos Correa hit an infield single and Martín Maldonado doubled, with George Springer doubling them both home to tie it. An inning later, Yuli Gurriel singled and an out later, Marwin González homered over the Green Monster for a 4–2 lead. But the Red Sox struck back in the bottom of the inning. Bogaerts singled, Steve Pearce doubled and Devers walked to load the bases. One out later, Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a bases-clearing double to give the Red Sox a 5–4 lead, which they would never relinquish. Price would fall an out shy of being credited the victory, allowing four runs, five hits, and four walks. Matt Barnes relieved him in the fifth with two outs and retired the next four batters for the victory. In the seventh, after Betts walked, Lance McCullers Jr. threw a wild pitch, advancing Betts to second, then to third on a Maldonado passed ball. One out later, another Maldonado passed ball scored Betts to make it 6–4. The next inning saw Devers single to center; two outs later, Mitch Moreland singled, and A. J. Hinch immediately sent out Héctor Rondón to face Betts, who doubled to center, scoring Devers to extend their lead to three runs. Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth, allowing a two-out double by Springer and a José Altuve RBI single to bring the Astros to within 7–5. Kimbrel then retired Alex Bregman, who flew out to Benintendi to end the game, earning his third save this postseason, and tying the series at one all.
Game 3
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Houston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Nathan Eovaldi (1–0) LP: Joe Smith (0–1) Home runs: BOS: Steve Pearce (1), Jackie Bradley Jr. (1) HOU: None Attendance: 43,102 Boxscore |
Former Astros
Game 4
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Houston | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: Joe Kelly (1–1) LP: Josh James (0–1) Sv: Craig Kimbrel (2) Home runs: BOS: Jackie Bradley Jr. (2) HOU: George Springer (1), Tony Kemp (1) Attendance: 43,277 Boxscore |
Former Astros player
At four hours and 33 minutes, this was the second-longest nine-inning postseason game in MLB history;[16] 2017 NLDS Game 5 between the Chicago Cubs and Washington Nationals was four minutes longer.[17]
Game 5
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Boston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
WP: David Price (1–0) LP: Justin Verlander (1–1) Sv: Craig Kimbrel (3) Home runs: BOS: J. D. Martinez (1), Rafael Devers (1) HOU: Marwin González (2) Attendance: 43,210 Boxscore |
Former Astros
Boston's Jackie Bradley Jr., who had nine RBIs in the series on three hits (a double and two home runs), was named ALCS MVP.[21]
Composite line score
2018 ALCS (4–1): Boston Red Sox beat Houston Astros.
Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Houston Astros | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 37 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Boston Red Sox | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 29 | 40 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
Total attendance: 205,556 Average attendance: 41,111 |
See also
References
- ^ 2018 Major League Baseball postseason schedule. MLB.com. Retrieved on September 25, 2018.
- ^ Red Sox and Astros give us a star-studded American League Championship Series. sbnation.com. Retrieved on October 9, 2018.
- ^ Schoenfield, David (October 13, 2018). "Buckle up for an epic ALCS as 108-win Red Sox and 103-win Astros collide". ESPN.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ Cotillo, Chris (October 12, 2018). "Red Sox-Astros 2018 ALCS preview: TV schedule, pitching matchups, keys to victory and more". masslive.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ "MLB Stats | MLB Team Stats | MLB Leaders".
- ^ "Boxscore: Houston vs. Boston, Game 1". MLB.com. Retrieved October 13, 2018.
- ^ "Boxscore: Houston vs. Boston, Game 2". MLB.com. Retrieved October 14, 2018.
- ^ "Boxscore: Boston vs. Houston, Game 3". MLB.com. Retrieved October 16, 2018.
- ^ "Boxscore: Boston vs. Houston, Game 4". MLB.com. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ "Boxscore: Boston vs. Houston, Game 5". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ @RedSox (October 14, 2018). "Oh hey, Jonny Gomes!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 15, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ @KPRC2 (October 16, 2018). "Lance Berkman with a strike for the First Pitch!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 16, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ @brianmctaggart (October 18, 2018). "Chris Burke just threw the first pitch to Brandon Backe" (Tweet). Retrieved October 17, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Blackburn, Pete (October 17, 2018). "Red Sox vs. Astros: Controversial fan interference plays huge role in first inning of Game 4". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 17, 2018.
- ^ Browne, Ian (October 18, 2018). "Benny Ballgame: Catch puts Sox a W from WS". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ Lindbergh, Ben (October 19, 2018). "October Amplifies the Worst of Baseball—So Why Are the Games So Good". The Ringer. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ "Team Batting Game Finder". Baseball-Reference.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ @mooreonzach (October 19, 2018). "Jeff Kent w/the first pitch!" (Tweet). Retrieved October 18, 2018 – via Twitter.
- ^ Davidoff, Ken (October 18, 2018). "Red Sox have a dubious plan to finish off this ALCS". New York Post. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- ^ "Boston Red Sox beat defending champions Astros to make World Series". Guardian. October 19, 2018. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- ^ Stephen, Eric (October 19, 2018). "Jackie Bradley Jr. named ALCS MVP". SB Nation. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
Further reading
- "Gerry Davis, Joe West crew chiefs for league championships". Boston.com. AP. October 11, 2018. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- Anderson, R. J. (October 15, 2018). "Chris Sale update: Red Sox ace held overnight at hospital due for stomach illness, Alex Cora says it's 'nothing serious'". CBS Sports. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- Browne, Ian (October 13, 2018). "Sox announce ALCS roster with Moreland on it". MLB.com. Retrieved October 15, 2018.
- Dunphy, Mark (October 17, 2018). "Why the umpire ruled fan interference on a potential Mookie Betts home run-saving catch". Boston.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- Footer, Alyson (October 18, 2018). "Fan interferes with Betts on potential Altuve HR". MLB.com. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- Hawkins, Stephen (October 18, 2018). "What the Astros had to say about Joe West's controversial fan interference call". Boston.com. AP. Retrieved October 18, 2018.
- McTaggart, Brian (October 12, 2018). "Astros set ALCS roster, opt for 12th pitcher". MLB.com. Retrieved October 12, 2018.
- Rome, Chandler (October 19, 2018). "Repeat bid falls short as Astros lose to Red Sox in ALCS". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Yang, Nicole (October 19, 2018). "How David Price pitched in Game 5 of the ALCS". Boston.com. Retrieved October 19, 2018.
- Young, Matt (October 18, 2018). "Kate Upton tweets displeasure with umpires from her seat at Astros game". Houston Chronicle. Retrieved October 18, 2018.