12-25-2019, 03:14 AM
BOSTON -- For a few seconds it looked like the inning was over. Willy Hernangome Jersey . Then, a couple of minutes later, Jose Altuves grand slam broke the game open. Altuve hit his first slam after Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts made a mental gaffe on a play that would have ended an inning Sunday, carrying the Houston Astros to an 8-1 victory over the Red Sox. Leading 2-0, the Astros got a break when manager Bo Porter won a challenge and they scored four runs after Bogaerts mistake. The shortstop picked up Marwin Gonzalezs grounder, ran to second for what looked like a force and fired to first. The problem was he threw the ball about a step before he tagged the bag. After Joe Kelly walked the bases full, Altuve homered into the Green Monster seats. "That theres a big play," said Porter, who said he was first told by the umpires that the play wasnt reviewable. "You look at that stage of the game and what proceeded to happen after that, Altuve with the big grand slam, one could say that was the biggest play of the game." Red Sox manager John Farrell was ejected by first-base umpire Doug Eddings after Altuves slam when he came out to argue. "My initial explanation on the field was that it was a neighbourhood play," Farrell said. "My interpretation is that neighbourhood play should not be determined by a feed throw or not, a neighbourhood play is not a reviewable play." Crew chief Jim Joyce, speaking to a pool reporter from the AP, said because he had never seen the play before that the crew decided to ask the replay centre for help. "Actually, we have not have had that play per say where the shortstop or the second baseman go right to the bag on their own," he said. "So, just to make everything clear, I explained to Bo that I was going to ask New York, the replay centre, if it was in fact reviewable because a neighbourhood play is not. New York came back to me and said, Yes, that play is reviewable and I came back to them and said, OK, Houston is challenging that play and that was the outcome." Altuve, who leads the majors in hits, went 4 for 5, raising his hit total to 173 and majors best average to .339 as the Astros completed a split of the four-game series. Dexter Fowler and Jon Singleton added solo homers for Houston, which earned its 52nd win to surpass last years total. Daniel Nava had an RBI double for Boston. Collin McHugh (6-9) gave up one run on seven hits in six innings for Houston. Kelly (0-1) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits, walking six over four innings in his Fenway Park debut with the Red Sox. He was acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline along with first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig for right-hander John Lackey. Fowlers homer in the third made it 7-0. WHAT A DAY Altuve became the first Astros player to collect four hits and a slam in the same game since Jeff Bagwell did it on April 9, 2004 at Milwaukee. He also matched his career high with the hits for the seventh time, last came on June 27 against Detroit. HOMER HAPPY The Astros entered the day second in the majors with 50 homers since July 1. They have 16 games this season with three or more homers and have gone 14-2. TRAINERS ROOM Astros 1B Jesus Guzman, on the DL since August 2 with back spasms and on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, is eligible to come off. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia was out sick and it was his 31st birthday. He had three homers in seven previous games on his birthday. UP NEXT The Astros are off Monday before opening a three-game series at Yankee Stadium Tuesday when LHP Brett Oberholtzer (4-8, 3.87 ERA) is scheduled to face New Yorks lefty Chris Capuano (1-3, 4.13). RHP Brandon Workman (1-6, 4.45 ERA) is slated to go for Boston Monday, facing C. J. Wilson (9-8, 4.71 ERA) when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. CELEBRITY SIGHTING Actor Matthew McConaughey watched the game from the second row down the left-field line just past the Astros dugout. He appeared to go fairly unnoticed until he left in the top of the ninth and many fans took pictures and shook hands as he was walking out. P. J. Washington Jersey . Starters, when they struggle, have to live with it for five days. For Sergio Santos and Steve Delabar, two of the three men who authored one of the ugliest pitched innings in Blue Jays franchise history on Thursday night, the bounce-back chance came right away. Alonzo Mourning Jersey . Snedekers best result so far this year is a tie for eighth place at the Arnold Palmer Invitational in March. He sits 113th in FedEx Cup standings and has dropped to 31st in world rankings — not the results expected from a player ranked fourth in the world only two years ago. https://www.cheaphornets.com/405l-kemba-...rnets.html . According to Dave Stubbs of The Montreal Gazette, preliminary talks have begun between Markov - an unrestricted free agent this summer - and general manager Marc Bergevin.MONTREAL -- With all the sadness around the New York Rangers these days, winning a laugher may have been just what they needed. Martin St. Louis, who is to attend his mothers funeral with his teammates on Sunday, got the opening goal as seven different Rangers scored and Henrik Lundqvist broke his Bell Centre jinx in a 7-2 rout of the Montreal Canadiens to open the NHL Eastern Conference final on Saturday afternoon. Game 2 is set for Monday night in Montreal. "It was an emotional time for everyone, but the guys have been behind me and supported me," said St. Louis, who got a long ovation from Montreal fans when he was named the games first star. "My teammates are behind me and supporting me and their effort was unbelievable. "We feel really close right now and were trying to keep feeding off that." Coach Alain Vigneault said his team is trying to support St. Louis and stay focused on playing a sound team game at the same time. "Emotionally, for us, that is something really strong right now," said Vigneault. "I know quite a few of our guys went to the wake (on Friday), and I texted with Marty last night to make sure that everything was good. "Its been very emotional for our whole group, and hes handled it in an incredible way that probably has helped our team come closer together. (Sunday) is going to be a tough day for our group. We need to be there to support him, and well do that and get ready for Monday." The quick-footed Rangers, coming off a comeback, seven-game win over Pittsburgh in the conference semifinals, jumped on a Montreal side that was flat and mentally absent after its nasty, emotional seven-game win over first-place overall Boston. Mats Zuccarello, Chris Kreider, Brad Richards, Ryan McDonagh, Derek Stepan and Rick Nash, with his first of the playoffs, also scored for the Rangers, a team that had scored only four goals in its last nine regular-season visits to the Bell Centre. "You dont look at the score," said Richards. "Thats not indicative of how anythings going to happen in this series. "We got fortunate. We got some bounces. We got some momentum and pucks went in the net. It was a win, thats all it was, and were very aware that its going to be a lot different." New Yorks turnaround against Pittsburgh started when St. Louis returned to the team a day after mother France died suddenly last week. They went on to win three games in a row to erase a 3-1 series deficit. The 38-year-old has played inspired hockey since then, and his teammates have rallied behind him. Playing in his home town, only 4:35 into Game 1 St. Louis found an unguarded spot near the Montreal net and put Dominic Moores pass into an open side behind Carey Price, who had a night to forget. The Montreal goaltender looked to have hurt his right leg early in the second period when Kreider slid into him after shooting wide on a breakaway. He stayed in the game, but was pulled after giving up two goals late in the second frame. Coach Michel Therrien said Price was not injured, but was replaced by Peter Budaj simply because the team was playing so poorly there was no point in leaving him in. "We got our (backsides) kicked all over the ice," said Montreal left-winger Rene Bourque, who had a goal but took three minor penalties. "Theres really no other way to explain it. "Good thing its a seven-game series and we have a chance to get back in it on Monday. I think we had a little bit of an emotional letdown after the Boston series. We talked about that to going into the game. Obviously it didnt click. We have to just forget about this game." Lars Eller also scored for Monttreal. Charlotte Hornets Gear. The Rangers poured on goals even though one of their best forwards in the playoffs, Derick Brassard, left after only his second shift early in the game after a hit by Mike Weaver. He appeared to be favouring a shoulder, but Vigneault would only say that his condition is day-to-day. Otherwise, everything went right for New York, including the play of Moore, a fourth-liner who moved into Brassards spot. For one, Nash finally got a goal in New Yorks 15th game of the post-season, which must have been a relief for a top-line player who had been booed at home for his lack of production. "Were all happy to see Nasher score because hes taken a lot of heat," said Richards. "Thats a little weight off his back, but really, it doesnt matter. "We won the game. When youre in the playoffs, when its 7-1, no ones jumping up and down about who scored goals. We won as a team, weve got a good start and were going to move on to Game 2." The struggling power play went 3 for 7, matching its goal total from its previous 29 chances in these playoffs. And Lundqvist finally won in Montreal. The goalie known as King Henrik had not played a game at the Bell Centre since allowing four goals on Jan. 15, 2012. His last win there was March 17, 2009. He didnt appear to be in top form, but he didnt need to be as Montreal managed only 22 shots. "I felt good coming into the game," said Lundqvist. "We havent won too many games in this building so its a great start." The Canadiens will try to regroup after their worst playoff defeat since losing 8-2 to Carolina in 2002. "You dont need to make many adjustments (for Game 2) when you are not ready mentally," said Therrien. "You have no chance to win in that situation. "There were a lot of mental errors." Budaj was beaten on his first shot, a bullet from the slot by McDonagh on a power play at 1:28. The frustrated Canadiens then took a succession of penalties, including two minors and a misconduct to former Ranger Brandon Prust. Stepan scored and then Nash put one in from the slot. Montreal got one back while shorthanded with 4:38 left in the game when Eller beat Lundqvist with a quick, high shot from the slot. "We talked about getting pucks behind them and work the puck and we did a good job of that," said McDonagh, who also had three assists. The boost the Canadiens got from their rousing pre-game ceremonies in the first two series wasnt there as the Rangers showed all the speed and intensity in the opening frame, outshooting Montreal 12-6 and taking a 2-0 lead. Moore jumped on a loose puck after Michael Bournival partially blocked a point shot and slipped a pass to a wide open St. Louis at the doorstep to open the scoring at 4:35. Moore was the playmaker again as he slid a pass in front of the net and the trailing Zuccarrello was able to poke it into an open side as New York beat Price twice on their first five shots. Bourque took consecutive hooking calls late in the first period, but made up for it in the second as he went hard to the net, whacked at Brian Giontas pass and saw it go in off McDonaghs stick at 12:38. Montreals push-back brought the 21,273 at the Bell Centre back to life, but they went quiet again as Stepan broke in alone on the left side and beat Price with a low shot at 18:59. With 11.6 seconds left in the period, Zuccarello made a sweet reverse pass that had Price out of position for Richards to score into an open side. "They were really coming at us there," said McDonagh. "You get some fortunate clears and good finishing plays by the guys up front. It was a big change of momentum for sure, because they were really flying." ' ' '