Bryan Abreu earned his first win of the season by pitching two scoreless innings in the Houston Astros' 3-1 victory over the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. The reliever closed out the game in the 10th despite some tense moments with the bases loaded. Red Sox starter Ranger Suarez exited early with right hamstring tightness.
The Astros defeated the Red Sox 3-1 in a 10-inning pitchers' duel at Fenway Park, securing the series win and finishing their road trip at 3-3. Astros reliever Bryan Abreu, filling the closer role with Josh Hader on the injured list, entered a tied game in the ninth. He recorded four outs in the ninth and 10th, stranding the bases loaded in the bottom of the 10th on a game-ending double play by Ceddanne Rafaela. Cam Smith's two-run single in the top of the 10th provided the go-ahead runs off the Green Monster, Houston's first clutch hit after going 0-for-7 with runners in scoring position earlier. Abreu threw 22 pitches, 15 for strikes, averaging 93.5 mph on his fastball, down from last year's mark but showing poise under pressure. “Being able to go out there and compete and help the team win, that’s a huge step for me,” Abreu said. Astros manager Joe Espada praised his performance: “We can’t get to where we want to get to without Bryan Abreu. Hopefully this is a trampoline that gets him going.” Cody Bolton started for Houston, going 2 1/3 innings, followed by a bullpen effort including AJ Blubaugh's season-high 3 2/3 innings, where he allowed a solo homer to Jarren Duran. For Boston, Ranger Suarez pitched four scoreless innings with three strikeouts before leaving with right hamstring tightness after 70 pitches. The injury will sideline him for the upcoming Detroit trip, though he wasn't scheduled to pitch. “Last year I suffered something similar. I didn't miss any time, hopefully I won't miss any time,” Suarez said through translator Carlos Villoria. Jarren Duran hit a solo homer in the fifth for Boston's only run, but the team stranded 24 combined runners. Interim manager Chad Tracy and players like Marcelo Mayer highlighted struggles with runners in scoring position.
