HOUSTON – The Astros lost to the Red Sox 7-5 in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series. The series is tied 1-1, with Game 3 set for Tuesday in Houston.
One night after Justin Verlander pitched Houston to a 7-2 victory in the series opener, Gerrit Cole was unable to duplicate the success of his fellow hard-throwing right-hander. The 28-year-old Cole allowed a season-high five runs and six hits -- all of them on fastballs -- in six innings.
Looking amped and jittery, Cole allowed his first run on his sixth pitch of the game. Mookie Betts drove his 3-1 pitch off the wall in center, and Andrew Benintendi followed with an RBI single.
After J.D. Martinez lined to second, Cole picked up Xander Bogaerts' bouncer in front of the mound and threw wildly to first for an error. The miscue helped set up Rafael Devers' RBI single.
Houston stormed back to tie the game on a two-run double by George Springer.
With two outs in the top of the third inning, Marwin Gonzalez launched a two-run blast over the Green Monster in left field to give the Astros a 4-2 lead.
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros makes the catch on the warning track during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Tony Kemp #18 of the Houston Astros avoids the pitch during the eighth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Josh James #63 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox scores a run in the seventh inning on a passed ball during Game Two of the American League Championship Series against the Houston Astros at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros fields a past ball during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Lance McCullers Jr. #43 of the Houston Astros delivers the pitch during the seventh inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros throws out the runner during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Umpire Vic Carapazza #19 makes the out call as Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros tags Jackie Bradley Jr. #19 of the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. The call was later corrected to a foul ball. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Josh Reddick #22 of the Houston Astros hits a ground ball during the sixth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros swings at a pitch during the fifth inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Manager Alex Cora #20 take David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox out of the game during the fifth inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros throws out Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Rafael Devers #11 of the Boston Red Sox is congratulated by manager Alex Cora #20 after scoring during the third inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros calls for the training staff after Marwin Gonzalez #9 collided with the Green Monster while fielding a fly ball in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Fans watch as a two-run home run hit by Marwin Gonzalez (not pictured) #9 of the Houston Astros leaves the park during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Steve Pearce #25 of the Boston Red Sox hits a double during the third inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros celebrates with Yuli Gurriel #10 after hitting a two-run home run in the third inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros hits a two-run home run during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox reacts after allowing two runs during the top of the third inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Tim Bradbury/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros is congratulated by his teammate George Springer #4 after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Carlos Correa #1 of the Houston Astros runs to third base during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: A general view as David Price #24 of the Boston Red Sox pitches to George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros in the first inning during Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Omar Rawlings/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: George Springer #4 of the Houston Astros hits a two run double during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros hits a double during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Tyler White #13 of the Houston Astros swings at a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Gerrit Cole #45 gets a visit from Martin Maldonado #15 of the Houston Astros during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Jose Altuve #27 of the Houston Astros avoids a pitch during the first inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Mookie Betts #50 of the Boston Red Sox rounds third base and heads home to score a run during the first inning against the Houston Astros in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Yuli Gurriel #10 of the Houston Astros looks on prior to Game Two of the American League Championship Series against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
BOSTON, MA - OCTOBER 14: Marwin Gonzalez #9 of the Houston Astros makes the catch on the warning track during the second inning against the Boston Red Sox in Game Two of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on October 14, 2018 in Boston, Massachusetts. (Photo by Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
Jackie Bradley Jr. put Boston ahead to stay with a three-run double off the Green Monster with two out in the third. Cole walked Devers on four pitches and struck out Ian Kinsler swinging before Bradley's big blow.
After Boston took its 5-4 lead, Cole struck out Christian Vazquez to end the inning and retired his next nine batters before he was lifted from just his third career start at Fenway.
In the bottom of the seventh inning, Lance McCullers Jr. threw a wild pitch and Martin Maldonado had two passed balls, which allowed Boston to score a run and take a 6-4 lead.
Mookie Betts singled in a run off Hector Rondon in the bottom of the eighth inning to extend the Red Sox lead to 7-4.
After a Springer double in the ninth, Altuve singled him home to make the score 7-5.
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