Red Sox Wrap: Boston Bullpen Blanks Astros For Series Win

The Red Sox took their series against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, earning a 4-1 victory at Minute Maid Park.

Boston improved to 67-59 with the win, while Houston fell to 68-58.

You can check out the full box score here.

ONE BIG TAKEAWAY
Zack Kelly, Josh Winckowski, Greg Weissert, Brennan Bernardino, Luis Garcia and Chris Martin blanked the Astros on Wednesday

No, we aren't joking.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora made the bold decision to pull Cooper Criswell prior to his third turn through the order, ending his afternoon after just 4 2/3 innings and 80 pitches. Boston was forced to rely on the bullpen from there, and the results were likely the opposite of what you would have expected, with the six relievers previously mentioned putting together their best game in weeks months all season.

Bernardino's three-pitch appearance was the biggest point in the game, as he struck out Yordan Alvarez with ease to get out of a jam that was left by Weissert.

https://twitter.com/RedSox/status/1826353520003694939

Boston didn't give up a single run after Houston slugger Alex Bregman smoked a home run to lead things off, while Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran and Triston Casas did enough offensively to give the club its first series victory against the Astros since 2022.

STARS OF THE GAME
-- Garcia might just be back on track, racking up a pair of strikeouts in his second consecutive scoreless frame.

-- Rafaela had quite the afternoon, both at the dish and at shortstop, finishing 2-for-4 with two doubles, two RBIs and two highlight plays from the hole.

-- Masataka Yoshida had a couple hits Wednesday. The sky is blue.

UP NEXT
The Red Sox will return to Fenway Park on Friday, opening a three-game set with the Arizona Diamondbacks. It'll be the only series of the season between the two clubs, with first pitch of the opener scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET, following an hour of pregame coverage on NESN.