Red Sox-Astros Game 1: In Real Life

The Astros beat the Red Sox, 8-2, to take a 1-0 lead in the American League Division Series presented by Doosan. We were at the scene in and around Minute Maid Park.
7:36 p.m. ET: Musgrove wraps win
Joe Musgrove set the Red Sox down in order in the top of the ninth, striking out Sandy León on three pitches, including a 96-mph fastball that Leon tipped into Brian McCann's glove to end an 8-2 win and give Houston a 1-0 series lead.

6:55 p.m. ET: No way, Jose! Altuve hits third homer
Having already mashed two home runs in his first three at-bats, Jose Altuve gave the hometown crowd one more thrill, becoming just the ninth player in Major League history to homer three times in a postseason game when he tagged Red Sox reliever Austin Maddox for a solo homer to lead off the seventh inning. The feat has been accomplished 10 times, twice by Babe Ruth. Altuve's blast further cushioned the Astros' lead, making it an 8-2 ballgame, and the superstar second baseman obliged after the raucous stadium demanded a curtain call.

6:40 p.m. ET: Sale chased, Astros add on
Chris Sale allowed a double to Evan Gattis and walked Josh Reddick to open the sixth, prompting manager John Farrell to pull his Game 1 starter after 100 pitches. Sale allowed seven runs on nine hits -- including three homers -- and struck out six in his first career postseason start. Houston didn't let up against reliever Joe Kelly, who allowed a Yuli Gurriel single that loaded the bases. Kelly struck out Marwin Gonzalez after a 10-pitch battle, but Brian McCann connected on a high 98-mph fastball, roping it into right-center to score a pair and make it 7-2.

6:10 p.m. ET: Altuve does it again
AL batting champion Jose Altuve, who combined with Alex Bregman for back-to-back homers in the first inning, launched another long ball in the fifth inning to chants of "M-V-P," a one-out solo shot on a first-pitch fastball from Chris Sale that landed near the same spot as his first homer in left-center field. Altuve, who extended Houston's lead to 5-2, became the third Astros player in franchise history with a multihomer postseason game, joining Carlos Correa (ALDS Game 4, 2015) and Carlos Beltrán (NLDS Game 5, 2004).

5:49 p.m. ET: Astros regain the lead
After the Red Sox struck for a game-tying run in the top half of the fourth, the Astros responded with two runs in the home portion of the inning to regain the lead, 4-2. Evan Gattis jump-started the rally against Chris Sale with a one-out double. Josh Reddick soon joined him on the bases, singling for his second hit of the day on a trap play that was originally deemed a catch by center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. Following the overturned call, men stood at first and second for Yuli Gurriel, who flied out to left field for the second out. But Marwin Gonzalez, who collected a team-leading 90 RBIs during the regular season, kept the inning alive with a double, sending in the go-ahead runs.

5:30 p.m. ET: Devers delivers to tie it up
Mookie Betts roped a double off Justin Verlander to lead off the fourth. Mitch Moreland's single moved him over to third before Rafael Devers lifted a shallow line drive to right field. Josh Reddick raced in -- covering 70 feet in 4.1 seconds -- to make an impressive four-star catch on a ball with a 29 percent catch probability, as measured by Statcast™. Reddick heaved the ball toward home, but Betts beat the throw and crossed the plate with Boston's second run.

4:44 p.m. ET: Boston gets on the board
In the second, Red Sox catcher Sandy León singled to right field with runners on first and second and two outs, but Reddick fired an 89.8-mph throw to nail Dustin Pedroia at third that arrived just as Mitch Moreland crossed home plate. Pedroia was initially called out before Moreland touched the plate, negating the run. But the call was overturned following a successful challenge from the Red Sox, allowing the run to stand and cutting Houston's lead to 2-1.

4:29 p.m. ET: Astros launch early
Houston wasted little time jumping on Red Sox starter Chris Sale, getting back-to-back home runs from Alex Bregman and Jose Altuve with one out in the first inning for a quick 2-0 lead in front of the home crowd. After leadoff man George Springer was rung up on strikes, Bregman stepped to the plate for his first career postseason at-bat -- and his first appearance vs. Sale -- and sent Sale's 12th pitch of the day into the left-field stands. AL MVP Award candidate Altuve was next, slugging a 97-mph fastball to left-center field on an 0-2 count. Only one other time in Astros postseason history have they enjoyed back-to-back home runs: Carlos Correa and Colby Rasmus teamed up for consecutive shots in Game 4 of the 2015 ALDS against Kansas City. For Sale, it was just the second time allowing multiple first-inning home runs in a game and first since Aug. 30, 2014, against the Tigers.

4:15 p.m. ET: Orange you glad
The Astros distributed rally towels at the gates to help "Orange Out" Minute Maid Park for Game 1 of the ALDS. One particular Bregman fan answered that call and then some.

4:12 p.m. ET: Nunez carried off
After working hard to return from a right knee injury that limited him in September, Eduardo Núñez was carried off the field by manager John Farrell and assistant trainer Masai Takahashi following a first-inning groundout. More >

3:58 p.m. ET: Lone star not alone
Springer punctuated the lineup presentation by running out of the dugout with a Texas state flag.

3:39 p.m. ET: What a relief [corps]
Red Sox manager John Farrell selected rookie right-hander Austin Maddox, who had an 0.52 ERA in 13 big league games this year, for the ALDS roster.

3:34 p.m. ET: This Justin
Houston Game 1 starter Justin Verlander on his solitary walk to the bullpen ahead of first pitch.

3:29 p.m. ET: Red Sox ready to rock
Dustin Pedroia's 47 postseason games played entering today ranks 17th among active players. Mookie Betts has only played in three postseason games, but that doesn't make his swing any less powerful.

2:02 p.m. ET: Scenes from the stadium
Carlos Correa answers some questions as the Astros warm up before Game 1.

1:53 p.m. ET: Can't beat this street
The Astros' Postseason Street Festival is in full swing on Crawford Street outside Minute Maid Park.


1:44 p.m. ET: Brothers, in arms
The love between the Astros is not just knee deep.

1:20 p.m. ET: Here comes Houston
Those shirts aren't lying. Correa, Yuli Gurriel and Marwin Gonzalez look focused heading into batting practice.

1:04 p.m. ET: Be a good sport
Boston and Houston's other professional teams showing some love to today's competitors.

12:37 p.m. ET: Dallas knows Houston
Safe to say Dallas Keuchel (2-0, 2.57 ERA in the postseason) knows a thing or two about playoff baseball.

• Red Sox, Astros announce ALDS Game 1 lineups
12:29 p.m. ET: Boston's batting order
Eduardo Nunez worked his way back from a knee injury that limited him to one game after Sept. 9 in time to start at DH for Boston in Game 1 of the ALDS.

12:27 p.m. ET: Nice ice, baby
It's a good thing the roof is closed at Minute Maid Park or the hot Houston sun would melt this frozen beauty.

12:05 p.m. ET: Houston, we have a lineup
Springer led off in all 137 of his starts in the regular season, and the postseason will be no different.