Red Sox defeat Rays to advance to the ALCS. After the team beat the Yankees in the Wild Card Game: I honestly didn’t think they would beat the Tampa Bay Rays. But, I was wrong! To read more about this match-up; be sure to visit my Red Sox Advance to the ALDS to Take on the Rays post.
Red Sox Defeat Rays
In Game 1, the Rays easily looked like the better team as they shut out the Sox with a score of 5 – 0. However, in Game 2, the Sox dominated and won 14 – 6.
With the team returning to play Games 3 and 4 in Boston; I was nervous when the Rays tied up the game on Sunday. Luckily, Christian Vazquez hit a 2 run homer in the bottom of the 13th inning and the final score was 6 – 4.
In Game 4, the Red Sox quickly took a 5- 0 lead; but little by little, the Rays came back. At the bottom of the 9th inning, one of the hottest players on the team, Kike Hernandez delivered the game-winner with a sacrifice fly. And, the final score was 6 – 5.
Now, the team has a few days to get ready for their next opponent.
Red Sox Advance to ALCS
In 2017, the teams matched up in the ALDS and the Astros defeated the Sox with a 3 – 1 record.
In 2018, they met in the ALCS and the Red Sox defeated the Astros with a 4 – 1 record.
Since they have faced each other 3 times in the last 5 years; the teams have a lot of familiarity with each other. In fact, Alex Cora was the bench coach of the Astros when they won the World Series in 2017.
In the regular season, the Astros won the series with a 5 – 2 advantage. Now, the slate is wiped clean. When it comes to the playoffs anything can happen.
Houston has the Home-Field Advantage and this series is the first team to win 4 out of 7 moves on to the World Series.
So, the big stage is set and the ALCS schedule is as follows:
- Friday, October 15th – 8:07 p.m.
- Saturday, October 16th – TBD
- Monday, October 18th – TBD
- Tuesday, October 19th -TBD
- Game 5 (if necessary) – Wednesday, October 20th – TBD
- Game 6 (if necessary) – Friday, October 22nd – TBD
- Finally, (if necessary) – Game 7 – Saturday – October 23rd – TBD
Houston Astros Dominated the White Sox
When the Astros played the White Sox in the ALDS; I thought this series could go either way. I thought the White Sox pitchers would keep the Astros offense off the bases. But, I was wrong. The Astros dominated the series and piled on runs in 3 out of the 4 games.
Indeed, the Astros playoff experience shined and they easily defeated the White Sox in 4 games.
Who Will Win
Though this series match-up will most likely go much differently than 2018; anything can happen in the playoffs.
Since the Astros were dominant against the Chicago White Sox; this series is hard to predict the outcome.
Meanwhile, Kike Hernandez has been the key in both the Wild Card game and the Divisional Series. So, will he continue to hit the ball well? In addition to Hernandez, many of the players have been hitting better than they did in the earlier games.
Of course, no one expected the Red Sox to advance in the playoffs.
Recently, when I was tuned in to one of the afternoon sports shows; many of the Analysts didn’t expect the team to beat either the Yankees or the Rays. With them moving on after a strange season; they are once again the underdog.
After the MLB Trade Deadline, Chaim Bloom was asked a series of questions. His response was”he felt the moves he made should be enough”. More importantly, he made an interesting comment that in a long season; anything could happen and it was all about the “Baseball Gods”.
In my opinion, the Red Sox has been up and down all year. Are they ready for the Astros?
With two really good offensive teams, I don’t want to pick the opposing team. However, based on the Astros offensive performance in the ALDS and their pitchers; I believe they have a slight edge over the Red Sox.
As always, I welcome your comments on who will win? Who will play n the World Series?
