One swing undid everything.
The Houston Astros carried a 1-0 lead into the third inning Thursday night at Fenway Park, Mike Burrows working through early traffic and Carlos Correa’s solo home run giving them a reason for optimism. Then Jarren Duran stepped in with two on and two out and hit a three-run homer to right center field, and the game was effectively over.
The Red Sox won 3-1. The Astros fall to 12-21.
Burrows was otherwise serviceable, completing six innings and allowing just the three runs on eight hits with one walk and three strikeouts. But the Duran homer was the only moment that mattered, and Houston’s offense never found an answer. The Astros went 0-for-6 with runners in scoring position and left ten men on base against Boston starter Jake Bennett, who held them to one run on five hits over five innings.
Correa’s homer in the second, a solo shot to left center off Bennett, was Houston’s lone highlight. The offense had chances but couldn’t convert, with Cam Smith, Yordan Alvarez, Jose Altuve, and Dustin Harris all failing to deliver with runners in scoring position.
Bennett was making just his second major league start. He struck out the first batter he face, Yordan Alvarez, and settled in from there to keep the Astros off balance.
Houston’s bullpen held Boston scoreless over the final two innings, with Bennett Sousa and Bryan King combining for two clean frames after Burrows departed. But with the offense unable to generate any late momentum, it was too little too late.
The Astros and Red Sox play again tomorrow night in Boston.
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