Oct 22

ALCS Game Six, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 5:08 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The visiting Red Sox need to win today to stay alive. They’ll give the ball to RHP Nathan Eovaldi (postseason 2-1, 5.51 ERA) and ask him to keep the Astros down. The Astros ask RHP Luis Garcia (postseason 0-1, 24.55 ERA) to end the Series right now.

Today in baseball history John Updike published his ode to Ted Williams as “The Kid” played his final game at Fenway Park in 1960, in 1975 the Reds beat the Red Sox in a World Series filled with reversals, home runs, and foul balls waved fair, Albert Pujols homered three times in Game Three of the 2011 World Series, and in 2016 the Cubs beat the Dodgers in Game Six of the NLCS to win their first pennant in 71 years.

Lineups:

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Two, 2021

Red Sox at Astros, 1:20 PM PDT, TV: Fox

U-less RHP Nathan Eovaldi (13-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the hill for the BoSox; he’ll face the Astros’ RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.48 ERA). Eovaldi went five innings in Boston’s ALDS Game Three against the Rays, giving up two runs on three hits. Garcia started Game Three in Houston’s ALDS Game Three against the White Sox and was horrible; he gave up five runs on five hits in 2 2/3 innings.

On this date in baseball history Bobby Richardson caught Willie McCovey’s line drive to end the 1962 World Series, the Miracle Mets won the 1969 World Series behind a Jerry Koosman five-hitter in Game Five, Jack Clark broke Tom Niedenfuer’s and Dodgers’ fans hearts in the 1985 NLCS, Aaron Boone did the same to Tim Wakefield and the Red Sox in the 11th inning of Game Seven of the 2003 ALCS, and Will Smith the Dodgers’ catcher homered off Will Smith the Braves’ reliever in 2020.

Lineups when available.

Red Sox:

Astros:

Oct 10

ALDS Games Three, 2021

Game One: Rays at Red Sox, 1:07 PM PDT, TV: MLBN

RHP Drew Rasmussen (0-1, 4.24 ERA) pitches for the Rays and RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA) does so for the Sox.

Game Two: Astros at White Sox, 5:07 PM PDT, TV: FS1

The Astros send RHP Luis Garcia (11-8, 3.30 ERA) to the hill to face RHP Dylan Cease (13-7, 3.91 ERA) of the White Sox.

On this date in baseball history Bill Wambsganss pulled off an unassisted triple play in the World Series (against Brooklyn, of course) in 1920. Lew Burdette is named MVP of the 1957 World Series for winning three complete games in the Braves’ defeat of the Yankees. Mickey Lolich of the Tigers outdueled Bob Gibson of the Cardinals to win the Series for his team in 1968. There’s a lot more to be seen at the link.

Lineups when available.

Rays:

Red Sox:

Astros:

White Sox:

Oct 05

AL Wild Card Game, 2021

Yankees at Red Sox, 5:10 PM PDT, TV: ESPN

RHP Gerrit Cole (16-8, 3.23 ERA) goes for the Yankees and RHP Nathan Eovaldi (11-9, 3.75 ERA) takes the ball for the Red Sox.

October 5 has been an eventful day in baseball history. Among other things, Mickey Owens let Tommy Heinrich’s ball get past him in 1941, Al Gionfriddo caught Joe DiMaggio’s fly ball in 1947, Don Newcombe made the first World Series start by a black pitcher memorable but lost 1-0 on a walk-off HR by Tommy Heinrich (him again!) in 1949, Mickey Mantle tore up his right knee in 1951 when DiMaggio called him off a fly ball, and Glenn Burke high-fived Dusty Baker in 1977, the first time that gesture was seen in MLB.

Yankees’ lineup:

Red Sox lineup:

Oct 16

ALCS Game Three, 2018

Red Sox at Astros, 2:09 PM PDT, TV: TBS

RHP Nathan Eovaldi goes for the visiting Sox while LHP Dallas Keuchel goes for the Astros. Both were very good in Game Three of their respective ALDS series: Eovaldi went seven innings and gave up five hits and one run to the Yankees, while Keuchel went five innings and gave up two runs to the Indians.

On this date in Red Sox’ history:

  • 1912 Fred Snodgrass’ 10th inning two-base error of pinch-hitter Clyde Engle’s routine pop fly in center field sets up the tying run en route to the 3-2 Red Sox victory over the Giants and a World Championship for Boston. The play, which becomes infamously known as “Snodgrass’ Muff,” is followed by his spectacular catch of a long drive hit by Tris Speaker, but the 20 year-old outfielder historically becomes known as the goat in the Fall Classic.
  • 2003 In Game 7 of the ALCS, the Yankees capture their 39th American League pennant, beating the Red Sox, 6-5, thanks to Aaron Boone’s 11th inning home run at the Bronx ballpark. The defensive replacement becomes the fifth player to end a postseason series with a homer, joining Bill Mazeroski (’60 Pirates, WS Game 7 vs. Yankees), Chris Chambliss (’76 Yankees, ALCS Game 5 vs. Royals), Joe Carter (’93 Blue Jays, WS Game 6 vs. Phillies), and Todd Pratt (’99 Mets, NLDS Game 4 vs. Diamondbacks).

On this date in Astros’ history:

  • 2005 The Astros won Game Four of the NLCS on a bases-loaded sacrifice fly in the seventh inning by Morgan Ensberg. The Cardinals threatened in the ninth but the Astros’ Brad Lidge managed to induce a game-ending double play.

Lineups:

Red Sox:


Astros:


Oct 08

ALDS Games Three, 2018

The early game will be played at Progressive Field (formerly The Jake) in Cleveland between the Astros and the Indians at 10:30 AM PDT. It will be shown on TBS.

The Astros send LHP Dallas Keuchel (12-11, 3.74 ERA) to the hill to try to sweep the series. The Indians ask RHP Mike Clevinger (13-8, 3.02 ERA) to stop them. Keuchel is 4-2 with a 3.24 ERA in eight career postseason starts for the Astros. Clevinger has made six postseason appearances, going seven innings in 2016 & 2017 with a 6.43 ERA.

The Indians beat the Braves on this date in 1948 as seen in the NLDS post below, but they also beat the Yankees in the ALDS in 2007 to advance to the ALCS for the first time since 1995. The Astros beat the Mets 1-0 in Game One of the 1986 NLCS behind Mike Scott.

Lineups when available.

In the late game the Red Sox and Yankees face off in Game Three of their series. Each team has won one game. It will be played at Yankee Stadium at 4:40 PM PDT and shown on TBS.

The Sox send out mid-season acquisition (and former Yankee/Dodger) RHP Nathan Eovaldi (6-7, 3.81, but 3-3 and 3.33 ERA with the Red Sox) to do battle with the Yankees’ Luis Severino (19-8, 3.39 ERA). Eovaldi has pitched 16 innings against the Yankees since he’s been with the Sox and has yet to give up a run to them. RHP Severino started the Wild Card Game and walked four while striking out seven in four shutout innings. He’s made five starts against the Red Sox this season, most recently on September 19 when he gave up just one run in seven innings. That gave him a 3.56 ERA for the year against the Boston team.

The Red Sox haven’t played much on October 8. In fact, the only notable thing they’ve done on this date was to pitch Ken Brett against the Cardinals in the 1967 World Series, which was only of interest because he was just 19 years old at the time, thus the youngest player ever to pitch in a World Series. The Yankees have frequently played on October 8. As noted in the NLDS post, Don Larsen pitched his perfect game against the Dodgers 62 years ago on this date. They also lost an ALDS Game Five thriller to the Mariners in 1995 on October 8 and lost to the Indians in Game Four of the ALDS in 2007, which cost Joe Torre his managerial job.

Lineups when available.