Houston Astros' Carlos Correa celebrates after his RBI-single against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Justin Verlander outlasted an uncharacteristically wild Chris Sale, overcoming control problems of his own to give Houston six innings of two-hit ball on Saturday night and lead the Astros over the Boston Red Sox 7-2 in the AL Championship Series opener.
Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa watches his RBI-single against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston.(AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Houston Astros’ Carlos Correa watch his RBI-single against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
On a 48-degree night that left both aces struggling to find the plate — and rookie Red Sox manager Alex Cora struggling to control his temper — Carlos Correa fisted a single into left field to break a sixth-inning tie and give the defending World Series champions their fifth straight postseason victory.
Boston Red Sox’s Steve Pearce celebrates after being walked in for a run during the fifth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora argues a strike three call during the fifth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Boston Red Sox manager Alex Cora argues a strike three call with umpire Joe West during the fifth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)
Josh Reddick hit a solo homer leading off the ninth, and Yuli Gurriel curled a three-run shot into the front row beyond the Pesky Pole to clinch it.
Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander reacts after Boston Red Sox’s Jackie Bradley Jr. scored on a wild pitch during the fifth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)Boston Red Sox’s Jackie Bradley Jr., right, scores past Houston Astros starting pitcher Justin Verlander on a wild pitch during the fifth inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/Elise Amendola)Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Chris Sale throws against the Houston Astros during the first inning in Game 1 of a baseball American League Championship Series on Saturday, Oct. 13, 2018, in Boston. (AP Photo/David J. Phillip)
Game 2 of the best-of-seven series is Sunday night, with Boston left-hander David Price trying to end his postseason skid against Astros righty Gerrit Cole. Cora has expressed confidence in Price, a Cy Young Award winner who is 0-9 in 10 career postseason starts, and the 108-win Red Sox will need him to be better than Sale was in the opener.
