Alex Bregman did a lot for the Houston Astros. In nine seasons with the club he was a two-time All-Star, a two-time World Series champion and will go down as one of the most important players in franchise history.
Making his return to Houston for the first time as a visiting player, Bregman received a huge ovation from his old fans at Daikin Park. Then he wasted no time inflicting on them the same kind of torment he spent years inflicting on others on their behalf.
Bregman homered in his first at-bat back in Houston on Monday, sending a 1-1 sweeper into the Crawford Boxes for a two-run shot. But after that it was all Astros, who knocked around Garrett Crochet and held off a late Red Sox rally to win 7-6.
Even with the loss, Bregman said afterwards he was proud of the team’s fight to nearly erase a five-run deficit against a playoff-caliber team like the Astros.
“It was really cool, great moment, just tried to soak it all in,” Bregman said of his home run. “It was a special moment, but I think I was most proud of the fight in the group today, obviously we go down 7-2 and fight back, that was really good. That’s what good baseball teams do and to have a chance there in the ninth with guys in scoring position, it was pretty awesome.”
After Roman Anthony singled to lead off the game, Bregman stepped up against former Astros teammate Cristian Javier, who was making his season debut following 14 months away recovering from Tommy John surgery. As he has so often in his career, Bregman lofted one into the air right into the shallow left field stands.
It was Bregman’s 95th career home run at Daikin Park — formerly known as Minute Maid Park — and his first as part of an opposing club.
“I made sure to tell him before everything started to enjoy it. He’s been very serious about the whole thing, we’re coming here against a playoff team and we’ve got to win games, but he earned the right to enjoy it,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “The Astros they did an amazing job with that video tribute, then he hit the homer and he’s a Red Sox.”
The next time he came to the plate he was greeted with boos.
“That was great,” Bregman said. “I loved it. I was hoping they would.”
Though normally a two-run lead has been plenty for Crochet, the Astros came out swinging against the Red Sox ace and rallied for three runs in the bottom of the third to take the lead. Cam Smith, Jeremy Peña and Carlos Correa — who was also playing his first game back in Houston since being re-acquired at the trade deadline — tallied three straight hits to cut the deficit to one, and then Christian Walker put the Astros in front with a two-run double.
Houston kept bringing the pressure in the fourth when Ramon Urias doubled and Chas McCormick sent a two-run shot to left, making it 5-2 Astros.
Crochet was pulled after just four innings, marking his shortest outing of the season. The lefty allowed five runs on seven hits and a walk while recording five strikeouts, and he threw 86 pitches, 61 for strikes.
Monday was the first time in 24 starts that Crochet has failed to complete five innings, and it was also his third start of the season allowing five runs.
“They did a good job putting good at bats, especially with two strikes it seems like they took the humble approach instead of trying to go big, then obviously the sinker in the middle of the plate they hit the homer,” Cora said, adding that he felt Crochet’s fastball command was off. “It’s one of those (days), we’ll take a look at it, make adjustment and he’ll be ready for the next one.”
The Astros kept swinging against the Red Sox bullpen, and Urias extended the lead to 7-2 with his two-run home run against Jordan Hicks in the fifth.
For a while the Red Sox couldn’t get anything going, but eventually the bats came to life in the top of the seventh.
After Houston right-hander Hector Neris recorded two quick outs to start the inning, Abraham Toro went deep for a solo shot and Ceddanne Rafaela and Masataka Yoshida tallied back-to-back doubles, the latter by Yoshida cutting the deficit to 7-4.
The Astros went to Steven Okert to face Anthony, but the rookie won the lefty-on-lefty matchup and took a slider over the middle deep for a two-run home run.
Just like that it was a one-run game.
The Red Sox got the potential tying run on base with two outs in the top of the eighth when Romy Gonzalez hit a soft grounder to shortstop that was mishandled by Jeremy Peña, but the club couldn’t capitalize after Gonzalez was thrown out trying to steal second.
Garrett Whitlock finished his second scoreless inning to keep it 7-6, and then the Red Sox got another chance when Peña booted a sharply hit ball by Connor Wong, who advanced to second to give his team a chance to tie the game with two outs in the ninth.
That brought up Anthony, and this time when the Astros went to a lefty again, the move paid off. Bennett Sousa struck out the rookie to end the game, handing Boston its third straight loss.
“It was a fun game, a tough one but we battled,” Cora said. “We did some good things today, we’ve just got to show up tomorrow and try to win the game.”
Sox make moves
The Red Sox made a series of moves prior to Monday’s series opener, adding catcher Ali Sanchez and left-hander Jovani Moran to the active roster while optioning infielder David Hamilton and left-hander Chris Murphy to Triple-A.
The club also designated minor league right-hander Nick Burdi for assignment to clear a 40-man spot for Moran.
Sanchez was claimed off waivers from the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday, and because he’s out of minor league options he had to be added to the active roster within a few days. But rather than place Carlos Narvaez (knee soreness) on the injured list or option Connor Wong, the Red Sox opted to carry three catchers, which manager Alex Cora told reporters in Houston pregame was done to help give Narvaez more rest.
As a result Hamilton wound up being the odd man out.
Moran’s call-up also completes an improbable return to the majors. The lefty last pitched in the big leagues in 2023 and has missed most of the last two years recovering from Tommy John surgery. He was acquired from the Minnesota Twins last offseason in exchange for Mickey Gasper and has posted a 3.44 ERA with 26 strikeouts in 18.1 innings with Triple-A Worcester.
He’ll fill the spot previously held by Murphy, who has struggled with his command recently, recording five walks in his last two outings.
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