Red Sox Hit Third Grand Slam Of Series, Take 2-1 Lead Over Astros In ALCS With 12-3 Win
BOSTON (CBS) -- The bats of the Boston Red Sox are hot right now.
So hot, in fact, that they've made history.
With a grand slam from Kyle Schwarber in the bottom of the second inning of Game 3 of the ALCS on Monday night, the Red Sox recorded their third grand slam of the series -- all three of them coming in 11 innings, no less. That has never been done before.
The Red Sox became the first team to hit three grand slams in a single playoff series, and just the second team to ever to hit three grand slams in a postseason at all.
J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers hit grand slams in the first and second inning, respectively, of Saturday's Game 2. The Red Sox won that game, 9-5, to even the series at one game apiece.
The Red Sox hit three grand slams during the 162-game regular season.
Schwarber's grand slam came with the Red Sox leading 2-0 in the bottom of the second of Game 3, off two walks, two hits, and an error from Houston second baseman Jose Altuve.
The Red Sox stretched their lead to 9-0 in the third inning, with Christian Arroyo belting a two-run home run.
The nine runs proved to be plenty enough for the win, but the Red Sox nevertheless tacked on a few more -- coincidentally getting homers from the two batters who clubbed grand slams in Game 2. Martinez hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning, and Devers hit a solo home run in the eighth.
Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez pitched six innings for Boston, allowing three runs on a homer from Kyle Tucker in the fourth inning. Rodriguez struck out seven batters and didn't walk anyone, while surrendering five hits.
Houston starter Jose Urquidy -- who served up that grand slam to Schwarber -- lasted just 1.2 innings before getting pulled. He gave up six runs -- five earned -- on five hits and two walks.
The trio of Hansel Robles, Martin Perez, and Hirokazu Sawamura finished the remainder of the game on the mound for Boston. Kiké Hernandez recorded two more hits, continuing his red-hot postseason. Arroyo had three RBIs, while Martinez and Christian Vazquez each had a pair of RBIs.
The Red Sox now lead the series 2-1, and Game 4 will be played Tuesday night at Fenway Park. Nick Pivetta will start for Boston, while Zack Greinke will get the start for Houston.
