The Boston Red Sox began a three-game series with the Houston Astros with a 5-4 loss at Minute Maid Park on Monday night.
With the loss, Boston falls to 65-59 while Houston improves to 68-56.
Check out the full box score here.
ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Boston's bats have carried the ballclub throughout the second half of the season.
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The Red Sox wasted no time getting rolling on Monday night. Jarren Duran drilled a leadoff home run before Rafael Devers came around to score on a Houston error to build on an early lead.
In another theme of the second half, Alex Cora consistently shows his desire to play chess with his lineup card and met that moment again when he called upon Masataka Yoshida to pinch-hit against Houston righty Tayler Scott. Yoshida answered the call with a two-run home run to left field to put the Red Sox back in front.
Unfortunately for Boston, one of baseball's hottest teams refused to go away quietly. The Astros evened the score on both occasions when the Red Sox held a two-run lead, including tying the game in the eighth inning.
The Astros ultimately won in walk-off fashion when Yainer Diaz blasted a walk-off home run after Red Sox closer Kenley Jansen.
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STARS OF THE GAME
-- Duran homered on the first pitch of the game.
-- Yoshida delivered the lead with a two-run blast.
-- Houston's Diaz won the game for the Astros with a walk-off home run.
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UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Astros continue their series at Minute Maid Park on Tuesday night. First pitch is set for 8:10 p.m. ET. You can catch the game, plus an hour of pregame coverage, on NESN.
Featured image via Troy Taormina/USA TODAY Sports Images
