Astros Beat Red Sox, Improve To 2-0 In ALDS

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros have found their early-season rhythm and look like a bonafide contender to challenge for a World Series title. For the second-straight day, the Astros hammered the Red Sox at Minute Maid Park. This time the Boys From The Bayou City shellacked Boston, 8-2, to take a 2-0 lead in the American League Division Series. The Astros won game 1, also by an 8-2 score, on Thursday.

Game 3 in the best-of-5 series will be Sunday at Boston's Fenway Park. The first pitch is scheduled for 1:38 p.m., and it will be broadcast live on FS1 Network. The Red Sox need a win to force a Game 4 and keep the series alive. Should the Astros win, they would move on to the American League Championship Series against either the Cleveland Indians or New York Yankees.

The Astros on Friday pounded out 12 hits and got a solid performance from Dallas Kuechel on the mound. Kuechel pitched six innings, striking out seven and allowing just three hits and one run. And for the second game in as many days, the Astros bullpen pitched looked strong, allowing just one run on four hits.

Carlos Correa launched a two-run bomb in the bottom of the first to give the Astros a 2-0 first inning lead for the second-straight day. George Springer hit a deep shot over the right centerfield wall in the fourth inning too give the Astros a 3-1 lead. Houston scored four runs in the sixth inning to take an 8-1 lead.

Jose Altuve went 2-for-3 on Friday, bringing his hitting prowess to 5-for-7 for a .714 batting average in the ALDS so far. On Thursday, he became just the 10th player in Major League Baseball history to hit three home runs in one playoff game.

Houston Mayor Sylvester Turner threw out the ceremonial first pitch prior to Game 2. Jim "Mattress Mack" MacIngvale threw out the first pitch on Thursday afternoon.

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Top image: Houston Astros' George Springer (4) celebrates his solo home run with teammate Jose Altuve (27) during the third inning in Game 2 of baseball's American League Division Series against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Oct. 6, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)