ALDS Game 1: Jose Altuve blasts three homers against Red Sox

When the Boston Red Sox signed former Cy Young Award-winning pitcher David Price to a $217 million contract in late 2015, they didn’t envision him as a reliever. They beat the Red Sox 8-2 and gave Boston a 360-degree view of how their lineup can hurt teams in a bunch of different ways. The Astros’ 8-2 victory was a team effort in the way every eight-run performance takes a full complement of players.

Back-to-back home runs with only one out in the first inning is a fine way to start a game. You know the top half of the order is going to get on base and be productive. But the Red Sox did not have much time to rest or celebrate, as its American League division series matchup against the Houston Astros began Thursday afternoon.

The Red Sox open the ALDS on Thursday, October 5 in Houston. THE PICK: Red Sox in 4.

Given Farrell wants to prioritize postseason experience, that could favor Doug Fister, who had a 5.58 ERA in September but allowed just three runs in each of his last two outings. Incredible day for the MVP candidate.

With the three homers, Altuve also became just the ninth player in the history of baseball to accomplish the feat.

Eduardo Nunez’s return to the Boston Red Sox lineup was even shorter than than last time.

Justin Verlander is still on the mound for Houston and he gets the Red Sox in order, 3 up and 3 down. Especially if the starter is Rodriguez or Fister, the bullpen will definitely play a role in the game. Jose Altuve hit.417, Marwin Gonzalez.364, Carlos Beltran.357, Yuli Gurriel.333 and Brian McCann.333 with three homers.

Verlander allows a hit to Ramirez, but otherwise gets off the bump without issue. The move makes Nunez ineligible to appear in the AL Championship Series if the Red Sox advance.

Verlander needed 79 pitches to complete four innings, having surrendered a two-out single to Sandy Leon in the second and a sacrifice fly to Rafael Devers that scored Mookie Betts in the fourth. Tie ballgame at 2-2.

While the pitching rotation for the AL Division Series against the Houston Astros hasn’t been set beyond left-handers Chris Sale and Drew Pomeranz in Games 1 and 2, Farrell said none of the scenarios he is considering involve Price as a starter.

However in his first plate appearance of the playoffs, Nunez re aggravated his right knee and was carried off the field as a result. The Astros get a man on first but can’t capitalize either.

Jose Altuve hit yet another solo home run in the bottom of the seventh, just to throw some more dirt on Boston’s Game 1 grave.

Each pitcher has a monster presence, and neither can wait to start his team’s first postseason game of 2017.

Altuve has now led the league in hits, claiming the batting title, for three-consecutive years.

Houston won the regular-season series 4-3. Sale has a 2.76 ERA in 126 road innings this season. And sure, they hit about 1.5 HR’s per game, where the Sox barely averaged 1.

Here in Manchester, Comcast subscribers can watch the game on Channel 269.

First pitch of Game 1 takes place from Houston at 4 p.m. EST on MLB Network, with Bob Costas, Jim Kaat and Jon Paul Morosi on the call.