Game 1: Houston 2, Boston 1
Roy Oswalt was impressive in his eight innings, allowing only a single run to the potent Boston lineup. But his Astros were down 0-1 after eight and a half, with Red Sox mounds-man Smoky Joe Wood twirling a shutout. But Smoky Joe literally threw the lead away when he flung an attempted throw to first into the stands that allowed Alan Ashby to score the tying run. The next batter, Moises Alou, singled in Craig Biggio for the go-ahead run. Billy Wagner relieved Oswalt to go for the save in the ninth, and looked a little shaky at first, letting Boston get runners on first and third with just one out, but Wagner bore down and whiffed the last two batters.
R H BB BOS 000 010 000 - 1 4 3 HOU 000 000 02x - 2 4 5 HR: J. Foxx (2) starters IP R ER HR BB SO S. Wood 7.2 2 0 0 5 6 R. Oswalt 8.0 1 1 1 3 4 BOS 12-7, HOU 8-9
Game 2: Boston 8, Houston 1
The big Boston bats came alive in game two, highlighted by Manny Being Manny swatting his first two dingers of the year. Lefty Grove went the distance for Boston.
R H BB BOS 300 020 003 - 8 9 9 HOU 000 000 001 - 1 6 1 HR: M. Ramirez-2 (2) starters IP R ER HR BB SO L. Grove 9.0 1 1 0 1 7 N. Ryan 6.1 5 5 1 5 6 BOS 13-7, HOU 8-10
Game 3: Boston 19, Houston 5
And then Boston really went crazy in game three, teeing off on relievers Brad Lidge and Dave Smith. Houston managed three round-trippers against Pedro Martinez, but five runs aren’t nearly enough when the Boston machine is running hot.
R H BB BOS 000 003 646 - 19 22 3 HOU 000 200 201 - 5 6 5 HR: C. Yastrzemski (3), N. Garciaparra-2 (3), C. Fisk (2), J. Bagwell (3), B. Watson-2 (2), M. Ensberg (2) starters IP R ER HR BB SO P. Martinez 7 4 4 3 4 13 M. Scott 6 3 3 2 0 1 BOS 14-7, HOU 8-11
