The Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros played the first of their three-game series tonight at Daikin Park in Houston, TX. Ranger Suarez made his Red Sox debut as he was opposed by Lance McCullers Jr. for the Astros.
Boston Red Sox Starting Lineup
LF – Roman Anthony
SS – Trevor Story
DH – Jarren Duran
1B – Willson Contreras
RF – Wilyer Abreu
3B – Caleb Durbin
2B – Marcelo Mayer
C – Carlos Narvaez
CF – Ceddanne Rafaela
LHP – Ranger Suarez
Houston Astros Starting Lineup
2B – Jose Altuve
DH – Yordan Alvarez
3B – Isaac Paredes
SS – Carlos Correa
1B – Christian Walker
RF – Cam Smith
CF – Jake Meyers
C – Yainer Diaz
LF – Brice Matthews
RHP – Lance McCullers Jr.
Purchase tickets via Ticketmaster
Red Sox vs. Astros
First Three
The Red Sox started the game going down 1-2-3 with Roman Anthony and Trevor Story striking out. The Astros led off the inning with back-to-back-to-back singles from Jose Altuve, Yordan Alvarez, and Isaac Paredes. Carlos Correa drove Altuve home with a groundout, which the Red Sox turned into a double play. They got the final out of the inning on a Christian Walker flyout. The Red Sox continued to be sent down 1-2-3 in the early innings. They did manage a single in the third, but it was extinguished when Ceddanne Rafaela grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the third Alvarez struck. He hit a two-run home run down the right field line to make it 3-0. It was his second home run of the season.
Middle Three
In the fourth, the Red Sox went down 1-2-3 again. The Astros did as well in the bottom half. The Red Sox in the fifth got a one-out single from their hottest hitter as Wilyer Abreu singled but Caleb Durbin grounded into a double play. In the bottom of the inning, Brice Matthews hit a solo home run. After a walk to Altuve and an Alvarez strikeout, Suarez’s debut was over. He went 4.1 innings allowing four runs on seven hits; he walked one and struck out three.
Johan Oviedo came in for his Red Sox debut. He hit Parades who was his first batter but then got the next two out. The Red Sox once again were sent down in order. The Astros added to their lead in the sixth after a leadoff double from Cam Smith, and Jake Meyers singled him over to third. Yainer Diaz hit a sacrifice fly bringing home Smith to make it 5-0. The Red Sox got a fly out and then recorded the last out as Carlos Narvaez threw out Meyers. The Astros would challenge it but the call stood.
Last Three
The Red Soxin the seventh finally got a runner into scoring position. After Roman Anthony grounded out, Trevor Story doubled and almost got thrown out at second, but he beat the throw with a beautiful slide. Duran drew a walk. Willson Contreras hit a line drive to shortstop, who dropped it, and the Astros forced Story out at third. The Red Sox’s hottest hitter would deliver as Abreu doubled home Duran to get Boston on the board. Masataka Yoshida would pinch-hit for Durbin but Yoshida with a full count would foul tip into Diaz’s mitt and strike out.
Isiah Kiner-Falefa went to third base to replace Yoshida. The Astros got the run back in on the first pitch as Altuve hit a solo home run. Oviedo got the next two outs before Correa singled then Walker hit a double to deep center field driving home Correa to make it 7-1 Astros. Smith drew a walk but Oviedo got out of it as he struck out Meyers. Ryan Weiss relieved McCullers in the eighth. McCullers went seven innings allowing a run on four hits; he walked one and struck out nine. Weiss allowed a leadoff walk to Mayer but got the next three batters. Altuve got Oviedo again with another solo home run by in the eighth to make it 8-1. The Red Sox in the ninth against Weiss went down in order as Boston dropped their third straight game.
Player of the Game
Jose Altuve went 4-4 with two home runs, two RBI, four runs scored, and a walk. Once again a pain in the Red Sox side.
Next Up:
The Red Sox and Astros meet again tomorrow for the middle game of their three-game series. They will have Brayan Bello on the mound, making his first start of the 2026 season. The Astros counter with Hunter Brown, who is making his second start of the season. First pitch is at 8:10 PM EST.
