Astros crush Red Sox in ALDS Game 2 and put Boston in a 2-0 series hole

Entering Game 2 of the ALDS, the Astros were hoping that they could repeat their offensive magic from Thursday afternoon and the Red Sox were looking to tie things up to not find themselves in a 2-0 hole for Game 3 in Boston on Sunday.

The former happened, the latter did not, and every other team should officially be scared of facing Houston in the playoffs because they are showing just how dangerous their entire lineup is at the plate.

The Red Sox helped them show off a bit by not being at their strongest on the mound and their pitiful performance at the plate, but it was The Astros Show from top to bottom all game long.

Starting pitcher Dallas Keuchel went 5 ²⁄₃ innings, allowing only three hits and one earned run. That would be only one of two runs Boston scored all day, with the only other one coming when things were already decided in the top of the ninth and Jackie Bradley Jr. singled a run home to make things 8-2.

Only five players — Chris Young, Dustin Pedroia, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Christian Vazquez — managed to notch a hit all day for Boston.

The Astros, meanwhile, rang up runs like they were in the express aisle at their corner grocery.

They started things off with a two-run home run from Carlos Correa in the very first inning, which was just a sign of things (and runs) to come. George Springer followed that up with his own solo home run in the third inning, and in the same frame Jose Altuve singled in a run to make the score 4-1.

The bottom of the sixth inning is when things got really wild though, with Alex Bregman bringing a run home with a sacrifice fly. Then Correa drove in two more runs with a double, and Evan Gattis singled Correa home. Just like that, Houston was up 8-1 and the game was all but over for Boston.

On Sunday for Game 3, the Sox will have their work cut out for them to try and crawl back to get within a game of Houston in the series. With how things look right now though, it wouldn’t be surprising for Houston to once again make quick work of Boston and punch their ticket to the ALCS where they’ll face either Cleveland or New York.

Houston’s offense is not to be messed with, and their pitching talent isn’t too close behind.