Boston

Red Sox Fall 7-2 to Astros in Game 1 of ALCS

Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected in the fifth inning

The Boston Red Sox fell to the Houston Astros 7-2 in Game 1 of the American League Championship Series at Fenway Park on Saturday night.

Houston scored two runs in the second inning to take an early lead, but the Sox battled back to tie the game with a two-run fifth inning.

Sox manager Alex Cora was ejected from the game for arguing with the umpire after a called third strike on Andrew Benitendi.

"I was arguing balls and strikes, and he threw me out," Cora said afterward. "It's a big pitch right there. If it's ball four, it's bases loaded. But you can't argue balls and strikes. It's kind of embarrasing it happens in the playoffs... Sometimes you gotta do what you gotta do, you gotta defend your players."

The Astros added a run in the sixth and then exploded for four runs on home runs by Josh Reddick and Yuli Gurriel in the ninth to lock the game up.

Chris Sale started for the Red Sox, giving up 2 runs in four innings while struggling with his command.

"It was a struggle for him tonight," Cora said after the game.

Houston starter Justin Verlander also struggled with his command at times but managed to outduel Sale, giving up 2 runs over six innings to earn the win.

Joe Kelly took the loss for Boston.

The Red Sox play the Astros in Game 2 on Sunday night. David Price is scheduled to start for Boston.

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