Monday’s emotional series opener between the Boston Red Sox and Houston Astros was a homecoming for Alex Bregman and Carlos Correa.
For Correa, it was his first home game since rejoining the Astros at the MLB Trade Deadline after three and a half seasons with the Minnesota Twins. It was his first home game at Daikin Park since the 2021 World Series.
Meanwhile, Bregman returned to Daikin Park for the first time since leaving Houston in free agency last winter. After calling the stadium home for the first nine seasons of his Major League career, it was Bregman’s first game back as a visitor.
The All-Star third baseman still seems comfortable there, as he took former teammate Cristian Javier deep in his first at-bat of the game.
With Roman Anthony on first and nobody out in the top of the first, Bregman launched a 1-1 sweeper from Javier into the Crawford Boxes in left, giving the Red Sox a quick 2-0 lead.
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“Every time you hit a homer in the big leagues, it’s pretty special,” Bregman said after the game. “But to be able to do it (in the) first at-bat back here was pretty cool, a pretty cool moment I’ll never forget.”
According to OptaSTATS, Bregman became the first MLB player since Duke Snider in 1963 to homer in his first road plate appearance against a former team that he won at least two World Series with.
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Bregman later singled as well. But unfortunately for Boston, Garrett Crochet wasn’t able to preserve the early lead, enduring his worst start in months.
The Astros rallied in the middle frames to take a 7-2 lead, then staved off a late Red Sox comeback to hang on for a 7-6 win and hand Crochet his first loss since May 26.
Correa enjoyed his homecoming as well, going 1-for-4 with an RBI single and a run. Javier earned the win in his first start since May 2024, settling down after Bregman’s homer and not allowing any additional runs through five.
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That was Boston’s first loss of the season against Houston and third straight defeat. The Red Sox will try to bounce back on Tuesday behind Dustin May (6-8, 4.93 ERA), who’s searching for his first win since joining them at the deadline.
He’ll face Spencer Arrighetti (1-2, 7.43 ERA), who’s aiming for his first win since March 29 after missing four months with a fractured thumb.
Featured image via Troy Taormina-Imagn Images
