LOS ANGELES – The Boston Red Sox are one win away from a World Series berth after a wild 8-6 victory over the reigning champion Houston Astros Wednesday in the American League Championship Series.
The Red Sox took a 3-1 lead in the best-of-seven series, pushing last season’s winners to the brink of elimination in Houston in a game marked by a controversial denial of what might have been an Astros homer and yet another monster homer from Boston’s Jackie Bradley Jr.
Boston seized the early initiative in the see-saw battle with two runs in the top of the first inning.
In the bottom of the frame, Houston’s Jose Altuve belted what looked to be a game-tying two-run homer to right field off Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello.
Outfielder Mookie Betts leapt at the wall but officials ruled that fans in the stands reached out and interfered with the play – a ruling that was upheld on review.
Astros manager A.J. Hinch clearly thought it was a dubious call, but insisted it wasn’t the key to Houston’s defeat.
The Red Sox trailed 4-5 after a string of lead changes heading into the sixth when Bradley struck again for Boston, lasering a two-out, first-pitch changeup from Houston pitcher Josh James into the right field seats for a two-run homer that put Boston up 6-5.
The Red Sox wouldn’t trail again, adding runs in the seventh and eighth before the Astros notched their sixth in the bottom of the eighth.
Houston threatened in the ninth, but Red Sox left fielder Andrew Benintendi made a diving catch with the bases loaded for the final out.
Game five is on Thursday in Houston, where the Astros send ace Justin Verlander to the mound in a bid to keep their season alive.
The winner of the series will face either the Los Angeles Dodgers or Milwaukee Brewers in Major League Baseball’s championship showcase.
The Dodgers, beaten in seven games by the Astros in last year’s World Series, were one win away from a return trip after a 5-2 victory over the Brewers in Los Angeles on Wednesday.
Dodgers ace Clayton Kershaw, who endured the shortest post-season outing of his career Los Angeles’ game one loss at Milwaukee last week, bounced back with seven stellar innings.
