Red Sox Wrap: Astros Smack Boston’s Bullpen After James Paxton’s Exit

BOSTON — The Houston Astros completed a sweep of the Boston Red Sox with their 10-2 victory at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon.

Boston fell to 61-55 after the loss while Houston improved to 62-55.

Check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Red Sox manager Alex Cora spoke highly about James Paxton entering Sunday’s start. Cora praised the veteran left-hander for his strike-throwing since he landed back in Boston in a pre-trade deadline deal with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Unfortunately for Cora and the Red Sox, they didn’t get to see much of Paxton’s skillset against the Astros as he threw just five pitches at Fenway Park on Sunday. They might not see him for quite some time, either.

Paxton needed to be helped off the field after he suffered a right calf strain. Paxton awkwardly stepped off the mound and started to move toward first base after Houston slugger Yordan Alvarez hit a ground ball to Red Sox first baseman Dominic Smith. Paxton immediately held his right leg and took a knee on the ground. Red Sox trainers worked on Paxton, but the 35-year-old departed for the clubhouse with the help of his teammates.

Houston’s offense presented a tough task even before the Paxton injury, and Boston’s bullpen wasn’t able to make up for the loss of its starting pitcher. Brennan Bernardino allowed four runs on four hits in 1 1/3 innings before Luis Garcia allowed five runs on five hits in two frames.

Houston scored the first 10 runs of the game (off 12 hits) and had a 10-0 lead entering the bottom of the sixth. Boston scored two runs in the bottom of the frame.

STARS OF THE GAME
— Alex Bregman (2-for-4, three RBIs, two runs) gave the Astros a 4-0 with a three-run home run in the fifth inning. Bregman came up just shy of a second knock with a drive that sounded off the Green Monster in the sixth inning.

— Alvarez (2-for-2, two runs, RBI, walk) followed up Bregman’s home run in the fifth with a solo shot to center field. It gave Houston some breathing room at 5-0. The Red Sox intentionally walked Alvarez in the sixth inning, and he came around to score on a Yainer Diaz two-run double.

— Ceddanne Rafaela (2-for-3, run) continued to show up for the Red Sox. Rafaela led off the sixth inning with an infield single and came around to score Boston’s first run in the two-run frame. Rafaela also made a highlight-reel defensive play with his diving catch in center field during the second inning.

ON DECK AT NESN
The Red Sox welcome the Texas Rangers to town starting Monday night. Boston opens its three-game series with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, and you can watch it live on NESN after an hour of pregame coverage.