Red Sox 14, Astros 1

 

Yeah, that's more like it! The Red Sox break a three-game losing streak with a 14-run thumping of the Houston Astros as Dustin May more than redeems himself and justifies his trade to Boston.

Every batter in the Boston lineup got a hit except, ironically, for pinch-hitter Alí Sánchez. In fact, every batter in the Boston lineup scored at least one run, except for Sánchez and Abreu (who still managed to hit three RBIs even if he didn't cross home plate himself). 

Roman Anthony, despite getting walked four times, still scored four times, stole a base, and hit a home run. His on-base percentage is .406 -  since 1947, only three players (Willie McCovey, Albert Pujols, and Juan Soto) have had a higher on-base percentage than Anthony through 52 games.

The game broke open in the sixth inning, when Narváez hit a three-run homer and Bregman hit a two-run homer.

But as much as I like all the scoring, it's the pitching that's most encouraging. May, after a disappointing Boston debut,  kept the Astros scoreless through six innings, striking out eight and giving up only five hits.

The road series is tied, 1-1, and tonight, Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40) will take the mound against the Astros' Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.51). Buehler gave up three runs on nine hits through 4.1 innings in his last start against the Astros, an August 2 game at Fenway, although the Sox held on and won the game (the win went to reliever Justin Wilson). The night before that, Brown held the Sox to one run on four hits, striking out six through seven innings, although Boston also managed to win that game, 2-1. 

After this game, the Sox have a day off to return back to Fenway, and the schedule will finally soften up a bit for the rest of the month.