Astros Look To Build Upon ALDS Lead This Afternoon

HOUSTON, TX — The Houston Astros look to take a 2-0 advantage in the American League Division Series this afternoon at Minute Maid park while the Boston Red Sox hope to even the series at one game apiece and the series shifting back to Beantown. Today's Game 2 of the ALDS will start at 1:05 p.m. on the FS1 Network with Boston's Drew Pomeranz taking the mound against Dallas Keuchel of the Astros.

The Astros cruised to an 8-2 win in Game 1 on Thursday behind the strong pitching of starter Justin Verlander and four players out of the bullpen. But the real star of the show was Houston's Jose Altuve, who belted three solo home runs in the game, becoming only the 10th player in Major League Baseball history to hit three homers in one playoff game. Babe Ruth is the only player who accomplished the feat twice.

Pomeranz started 32 games in the regular season, nothing a 17-6 record. He struck out 174 batters through 173.2 innings of work, allowing 166 hits with an overall 3.32 average. He gave up just 19 home runs on the season.

Keuchel was one of the top starters in the Houston rotation. He went 14-5 in 23 starts. He struck out 125 batters and gave up 116 hits in 145.2 innings of work. He allowed 15 home runs and had a 2.90 ERA.

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Altuve heard chants of "MVP, MVP, MVP" every time he walked up to the plate Thursday night. He homered in the first, fifth and seventh innings and took a curtain call after the third dinger — and the Astros hitters were all over the Red Sox pitching Thursday afternoon at Minute Maid Park. Altuve is one of the projected finalists to win the American League MVP award this year.

After Boston tied the score 2-2 in the top of the fourth, the Astros scored two more in the bottom of the fourth, got Altuve's second home run in the fifth, scored two more in the sixth and got another Altuve round tripper in the seventh.

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Top image: The Houston Astros and Boston Red Sox are introduced before Game 1 of baseball's American League Division Series, Thursday, Oct. 5, 2017, in Houston. (AP Photo/Eric Gay)