Watch CBS News

Red Sox beat sloppy Astros 6-1 to complete series sweep

By KEN POWTAK , Associated Press

Trevor Story and Ceddanne Rafaela had consecutive RBI singles in a six-run fourth inning filled with five Houston mistakes, Lucas Giolito pitched a season-high eight stellar innings, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Astros 6-1 on Sunday to complete a series sweep. 

Connor Wong added a sacrifice fly and Wilyer Abreu was credited with a sacrifice on a safety squeeze for an RBI during the inning, sending Boston to its third straight win over the AL West leaders and fourth in a row overall. 

Giolito (8-2) gave up the run on three hits with four strikeouts and a walk, eclipsing his previous season-high innings of 7 2/3 on July 4. 

Carlos Correa, acquired from Minnesota at the trade deadline, hit a homer for Houston, which has lost eight of 10. 

The game's first pitch was 11:38 a.m. EDT, the third time this season the Red Sox began a game in the morning. The others: their annual Patriots' Day game when they beat the White Sox and the Independence Day victory at the Nationals. 

Framber Valdez (11-5) gave up six runs, four earned, over six innings, ending his personal 10-game winning streak. He entered 10-0 with a 1.84 ERA in his previous 14 starts. 

Key moment
During the fourth, Houston missed a cutoff on Story's run-scoring single, Valdez had a wild pitch, balked home a run and had Abreu's bunt go under his glove for an error. Yainer Diaz had a passed ball. 

Key stat
Valdez hadn't allowed three runs in an inning since May 19. 

Up next
Astros: RHP Jason Alexander (1-1, 7.36 ERA) is slated to start the opener of a three-game series at the Marlins on Monday.
Red Sox: RHP Brayan Bello (7-5, 3.19) is set to start the first of three against the Royals on Monday. 

View CBS News In
CBS News App Open
Chrome Safari Continue