Carlos Correa, Astros remain strong in Boston with 12-8 win

By David Miniel |

135. Final. 8. 14. 12

Santana steals home in the 10th

On the same night former Chicago Cubs pitcher, Dan Straily made his 2015 debut, Carlos Correa and the first-place Houston Astros survived a late rally by the Boston Red Sox to win 12-8 in Friday night’s series opener at Fenway Park.

Boston jumped all over Straily during the bottom of the second inning to grab the 2-0 advantage. Outfielder Hanley Ramirez launched his 17th home run of the season – a solo blast that would be followed up with an RBI knock by Mookie Betts to Evan Gattis who picked up the start in left-field for A.J. Hinch.

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Houston responded with a huge five-run inning in the fourth which featured two RBI doubles. Jason Castro drilled a pitch to left field, scoring Jon Singleton to even things up at two.

Outfielder Preston Tucker capped off the frame with the second two-run double which pushed Alex Presley and Jose Altuve across home plate to make it 5-2.

Straily (0-0, 7.71 ERA) had himself a short debut for the Astros tonight as he was pulled after just 4 2/3 frames. Boston tagged him for four earned runs on six hits while issuing three walks and striking out seven batters. He could end up receiving another start as a member of this big league rotation in hopes of redeeming himself.

His counterpart, Justin Masterson (3-2, 5.58 ERA), lasted only 3 2/3 innings before the rest of the workload was handed over to his bullpen. The Astros recorded five earned runs on eight hits while drawing only two walks and striking out twice as well.

With Straily still on the mound, Boston was able to erase the three-run deficit courtesy of the middle of their lineup in the fifth. Designated hitter David Ortiz cut the lead down to just two on an RBI single to Presley in center field while advancing Xander Bogaerts to third.

With Ramirez looking to keep things going, Bogaerts would score on a force out to second baseman Jose Altuve. Altuve was credited with a throwing error on the play that allowed Ramirez to advance to second with two outs in the frame.

Shortly after the Red Sox tied things up for the second time, Correa drilled his sixth big league home run to left-center field to score the go-ahead run, making it 8-7. That lead would be short-lived when Ortiz tied things up with an RBI double during the home half of the eighth.

Both bullpens would remain strong until Boston caved in the 10th inning. Correa got things going with his second RBI of the game which scored Altuve then Singleton followed that up with another RBI single of his own.

With Castro in the box, Astros pulled off a double steal with runners on the corner. Singleton picked up his first stolen base of the season while Domingo Santana swiped home plate – his second stolen base of the season which made it 12-8.

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