Astros Beat Red Sox, Advance To ALCS

The Houston Astros are going to the American League Championship Series after coming from behind to beat the Boston Red Sox, 5-4, on a rainy Monday afternoon at Fenway Park in Boston. Houston third baseman Alex Bregman hit a solo home run to tie the game in the top of the eighth, and Josh Reddick hit a clutch RBI later that inning.

Houston will play in the ALCS beginning on Friday against either the Cleveland Indians or New Yew York Yankees, which play tonight. Cleveland holds a 2-1 lead in the best-of-5 series. If Cleveland wins that series, it will have home field advantage. Should New York advance, the Astros will have home field advantage at Minute Maid Park.

The Astros completed their first playoff series win since 2005, which was also the last time they advanced to a League Championship Series when they were still in the National League.

On Monday for the fourth straight game, the Astros got on the board in the first inning. George Springer opened the game with a double and advanced to third on a wild pitch. Two batters later, Springer scored on a double play.

The Red Sox tied the game in the bottom of the first and the Astros reclaimed the lead in the second. Boston's Andrew Benintendi hit a two-run home run to give the Astros a 3-2 lead.

Bregman's home run in the eighth tied the game at 3-3, and Reddick's single to left scored Cameron Maybin. The Astros tacked on an insurance run in the ninth, which was a good thing. Boston's Rafael divers hit an inside-the-park home run to close the score to 5-4. Houston pitcher Ken Giles then closed out the next three batters to send Houston wildly celebrating and on their way to the ALCS.

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Top image: Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) celebrates his home run with Carlos Correa, rear, and Evan Gattis, right during the eighth inning of Game 4 in baseball's American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, Monday, Oct. 9, 2017, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)