by Brian Danuff 10/1/17
Win, Dance, Repeat as division champions.
That’s exactly what the Boston Red Sox did on Saturday, clinching their second consecutive A.L. East title with a 6-3 win over the Houston Astros in front of the Fenway faithful.
Lefty Drew Pomeranz scattered one run and three hits across six innings of solid work en route to his 17th win of the season. The Sox offense spread the wealth, as Hanley Ramirez, Rafael Devers, Andrew Benintendi and Mitch Moreland all knocked in runs during rallies in the fourth and fifth innings.
In the seventh, with the Sox ahead 5-2, Mookie Betts all but slammed the door shut with a towering solo home run over the Green Monster. Closer Craig Kimbrel was taken deep by Brian McCann in the 9th, but managed to recoup and seal the deal for the Sox.
By clinching the division, the Sox punched their ticket to, of all places, Houston, where they’ll battle the Astros again in the best-of-5 American League Division Series. Game 1 of the A.L.D.S. is Thursday and will likely feature a herculean pitching matchup between Sox ace Chris Sale and the Astros’ recently-acquired Justin Verlander. Fans can watch the series on Fox Sports 1.
After a stunning sweep by the hands of the Cleveland Indians last October, the So
x are looking for redemption and their fourth World Series championship of the century.
