The 2017 American League Division Series were two best-of-five-games series held to determine the participating teams in the

2017 American League Championship Series The 2017 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven playoff pitting the Houston Astros against the New York Yankees for the American League pennant and the right to face the Los Angeles Dodgers in the 2017 World Series. The Astros de ...

. The three divisional winners (seeded 1-3) and a fourth team—the winner of a one-game Wild Card playoff—played in two series. These matchups were: * (1)

Cleveland Indians The Cleveland Guardians are an American professional baseball team based in Cleveland. The Guardians compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) Central division. Since , they have played at Progressive Fi ...

(Central Division champions) versus (4)

New York Yankees The New York Yankees are an American professional baseball team based in the New York City borough of the Bronx. The Yankees compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. They are one of ...

( Wild Card Game winner): Yankees win series 3–2. * (2) Houston Astros (West Division champions) versus (3)

Boston Red Sox The Boston Red Sox are an American professional baseball team based in Boston. The Red Sox compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the American League (AL) East division. Founded in as one of the American League's eigh ...

(East Division champions): Astros win series 3–1. For the first time, Major League Baseball sold presenting sponsorships to all of its postseason series; Doosan acquired presenting sponsorship to the ALDS, and thus the series was officially known as the American League Division Series presented by Doosan. The Astros would go on to defeat the Yankees in the ALCS, then win the

2017 World Series The 2017 World Series was the championship series of Major League Baseball's (MLB) 2017 season. The 113th edition of the World Series, it was a best-of-seven playoff played between the National League (NL) champion Los Angeles Dodgers and th ...

over the National League champion

Los Angeles Dodgers The Los Angeles Dodgers are an American professional baseball team based in Los Angeles. The Dodgers compete in Major League Baseball (MLB) as a member club of the National League (NL) West division. Established in 1883 in the city of Brooklyn ...

. It was the Astros first-ever World title.

Matchups

Cleveland Indians vs. New York Yankees

Boston Red Sox vs. Houston Astros

Cleveland vs. New York

This was the fourth postseason meeting between the Indians and Yankees, with Cleveland winning two of the three previous series including both times in the ALDS (

1997 File:1997 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The movie set of ''Titanic'', the highest-grossing movie in history at the time; '' Harry Potter and the Philosopher's Stone'', is published; Comet Hale-Bopp passes by Earth and becomes one of ...

and 2007). The Yankees won the

1998 ALCS The 1998 American League Championship Series (ALCS), the second round of the 1998 American League playoffs, was played between the East Division champion New York Yankees and the Central Division champion Cleveland Indians. The Yankees defeated ...

Game 1

Cy Young Award candidate

Corey Kluber Corey Scott Kluber (born April 10, 1986) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians, Texas Rangers, New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays. He made his M ...

was not tapped for this start to give him full rest. Thus, the Indians started

Trevor Bauer Trevor Andrew Bauer (born January 17, 1991) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Los Angeles Dodgers of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Arizona Diamondbacks, Cleveland Indians, and Cincinnati Reds. Af ...

, who befuddled the Yankees. He was followed by strong bullpen innings by Andrew Miller and

Cody Allen Cody Edward Allen (born November 20, 1988) is an American former professional baseball relief pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians from 2012 to 2018 and the Los Angeles Angels in 2019. Amateur career Allen ...

, resulting in only the fourth shutout the Yankees experienced all season. The Indians loaded the bases on a double, single, and walk with no outs off Sonny Gray in the second inning, but scored just one run on Roberto Pérez's double play.

Jay Bruce Jay Allen Bruce (born April 3, 1987) is an American former professional baseball right fielder. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Mets, Cleveland Indians, Seattle Mariners, Philadelphia Phillies and New Y ...

's two-run

home run In baseball, a home run (abbreviated HR) is scored when the ball is hit in such a way that the batter is able to circle the bases and reach home plate safely in one play without any errors being committed by the defensive team. A home run i ...

in the fourth after a walk extended the Indians' lead to 3–0. After getting out of a bases-loaded one-out jam that inning, Adam Warren allowed a leadoff single in the fifth to José Ramírez, who moved to third on two wild pitches before scoring on Bruce's sacrifice fly off Jaime García for the game's final run as the Indians took a 1–0 series lead with a 4–0 win.

Game 2

Former Indians

ace An ace is a playing card, die or domino with a single pip. In the standard French deck, an ace has a single suit symbol (a heart, diamond, spade, or club) located in the middle of the card, sometimes large and decorated, especially in the c ...

CC Sabathia Carsten Charles Sabathia Jr. (born July 21, 1980) is an American former professional baseball pitcher who played 19 seasons in Major League Baseball (MLB), primarily with the New York Yankees. He also played for the Cleveland Indians and Milwauk ...

faced off against current Indians ace

. Kluber lasted just innings, giving up a season-high six runs. Gary Sánchez's two-run home run after a walk in the first put the Yankees up 2–0, but the Indians loaded the bases with one out on an error, walk, and hit-by-pitch before Carlos Santana tied the game with a two-run single. The Indians again loaded the bases in the second on a single, error, and intentional walk when

Jason Kipnis Jason Michael Kipnis (born April 3, 1987; nicknamed "Kip") is an American professional baseball second baseman who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cleveland Indians and Chicago Cubs. He attended Glenbrook N ...

's RBI single put the Indians up 3–2. In the third, Sánchez singled with one out, moved to second on a groundout, and scored on Starlin Castro's single to tie the game. After a Greg Bird single,

Aaron Hicks Aaron Michael Hicks (born October 2, 1989) is an American professional baseball center fielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). He was drafted by the Minnesota Twins in the first round of the 2008 MLB draft. He made hi ...

's three-run home run put the Yankees up 6–3, chasing Kluber. Bird's two-run home run after a walk off

Mike Clevinger Michael Anthony Clevinger (born December 21, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Chicago White Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Cleveland Indians and San Diego Padres. Clevinger ma ...

extended the Yankees' lead to 8–3, but in the sixth, Sabathia was pulled by

manager Management (or managing) is the administration of an organization, whether it is a business, a nonprofit organization, or a government body. It is the art and science of managing resources of the business. Management includes the activities ...

Joe Girardi Joseph Elliott Girardi (born October 14, 1964) is an American former professional baseball player and manager in Major League Baseball (MLB). Girardi played the catcher position for the Chicago Cubs, Colorado Rockies, New York Yankees, and S ...

with one on and one out. Later with two on and two outs, controversy occurred when

relief pitcher In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weat ...

Chad Green was charged with a hit by pitch on Lonnie Chisenhall to load the bases. Replays showed the ball to have hit the knob of the

bat Bats are mammals of the order Chiroptera.''cheir'', "hand" and πτερόν''pteron'', "wing". With their forelimbs adapted as wings, they are the only mammals capable of true and sustained flight. Bats are more agile in flight than most ...

, which would have resulted in a strikeout on the

foul tip In baseball, a foul tip is defined as "a batted ball that goes sharp and direct from the bat to the catcher and is legally caught. It is not a foul tip unless caught, and any foul tip that is caught is a strike and the ball is 'in play'." A ''fo ...

to end the inning. Despite Yankees'

catcher Catcher is a position in baseball and softball. When a batter takes their turn to hit, the catcher crouches behind home plate, in front of the ( home) umpire, and receives the ball from the pitcher. In addition to this primary duty, the ca ...

Gary Sánchez insisting that Girardi challenge it, Girardi decided not to do so, extending the inning. Two pitches later,

Francisco Lindor Francisco Miguel Lindor Serrano (born November 14, 1993), nicknamed "Paquito" and "Mr. Smile", is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Cleveland Indian ...

hit a

grand slam Grand Slam most often refers to: * Grand Slam (tennis), one player or pair winning all four major annual tournaments, or the tournaments themselves Grand Slam or Grand slam may also refer to: Games and sports * Grand slam, winning category te ...

to bring the Indians within one. They tied the game in the bottom of the eighth on a

off David Robertson before winning it in the 13th when Austin Jackson walked off

Dellin Betances Dellin Betances (; born March 23, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the New York Yankees and New York Mets from 2011 to 2021. Betances was named an MLB All-Star from 2014 to 2 ...

, stole second and scored on a walk-off single off the bat of Yan Gomes. This was Cleveland’s final playoff win under the Indians moniker, as they were swept in 2018 and 2020 before changing names to the Guardians.

Game 3

With their season on the line, the Yankees started

Masahiro Tanaka is a Japanese professional baseball player for the Tohoku Rakuten Golden Eagles of the Nippon Professional Baseball (NPB). From 2007 through 2013, he played for the Eagles in NPB. Tanaka was posted by the Eagles after the 2013 season to be s ...

for Game three against the Indians' Carlos Carrasco. Tanaka pitched brilliantly, confusing Indians hitters for seven shutout innings with his splitter. Yankees right fielder

Aaron Judge Aaron James Judge (born April 26, 1992) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Judge was unanimously selected as the American League (AL) Rookie of the Year in 2017, and finishe ...

robbed

of a two-run

in the top of the sixth to preserve the scoreless tie. Yankees

first baseman A first baseman, abbreviated 1B, is the player on a baseball or softball team who fields the area nearest first base, the first of four bases a baserunner must touch in succession to score a run. The first baseman is responsible for the majori ...

Greg Bird scored the game's only run on a home run off former Yankee

reliever In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weather ...

Andrew Miller in the seventh inning. The Indians threatened to score in the eighth and ninth innings, but relievers David Robertson and

Aroldis Chapman Albertín Aroldis Chapman de la Cruz (; born February 28, 1988) is a Cuban-born American professional baseball relief pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, New York Yankees and C ...

managed to preserve the shutout and keep the Yankees' season alive.

Game 4

After lasting only innings against the Minnesota Twins in the 2017 American League Wild Card Game, Yankees pitcher

Luis Severino Luis Severino (born February 20, 1994) is a Dominican professional baseball pitcher for the New York Yankees of Major League Baseball (MLB). Severino signed with the Yankees as an international free agent in 2011, and made his MLB debut in 2015. ...

bounced back with seven strong innings. The Indians gave up seven runs on the night, but just one earned, as the Yankees took advantage of the Indians' four errors on the night. In the second, Starlin Castro reached on an error and moved to second on Roberto Perez's passed ball before

Todd Frazier Todd Brian Frazier (born February 12, 1986), nicknamed "The Toddfather", is an American former professional baseball third baseman. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Chicago White Sox, New York Yankees, Texas Rang ...

's double and

's single scored a run each. After Brett Gardner singled and stole second,

's two-run double made it 4–0 Yankees. An errant throw on Gardner's ground ball with the bases loaded next inning off

made it 5-0 Yankees. The Indians made it 5–2 on a two-run home run by Carlos Santana in the fourth and 5-3 after a home run by Roberto Pérez in the fifth. In the bottom of the fifth, Frazier reached second on an error off Danny Salazar, moved to third on a ground out, and scored on a Brett Gardner sacrifice fly off Tyler Olson. Next inning, a home run from Sánchez off Bryan Shaw, the only earned run the Yankees scored, put them up by four runs again.

Reliever In baseball and softball, a relief pitcher or reliever is a pitcher who enters the game after the starting pitcher is removed because of fatigue, ineffectiveness, injury, or ejection, or for other strategic reasons, such as inclement weather ...

Tommy Kahnle earned the save for a tired bullpen as the Yankees tied up the series and forced a decisive fifth game in

Cleveland Cleveland ( ), officially the City of Cleveland, is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio and the county seat of Cuyahoga County. Located in the northeastern part of the state, it is situated along the southern shore of Lake Erie, across the U.S. ...

Game 5

The series returned to

for the fifth and decisive final game. Yankees

shortstop Shortstop, abbreviated SS, is the baseball or softball fielding position between second and third base, which is considered to be among the most demanding defensive positions. Historically the position was assigned to defensive specialists wh ...

Didi Gregorius Mariekson Julius "Didi" Gregorius (born February 18, 1990) is a Dutch professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Cincinnati Reds, Arizona Diamondbacks, New York Yankees and Philadel ...

hit home runs in back-to-back

at bats In baseball, an at bat (AB) or time at bat is a batter's turn batting against a pitcher. An at bat is different from a plate appearance. A batter is credited with a plate appearance regardless of what happens during their turn at bat, but a batt ...

in the first and third innings (two-run home run) to give the Yankees a 3–0 lead. The Indians sliced into the lead with four straight one-out singles, the last two by Roberto Pérez and Giovanny Urshela, in the bottom of the fifth, chasing Yankee starter

. In the top of the ninth with closer

on the

mound A mound is a heaped pile of earth, gravel, sand, rocks, or debris. Most commonly, mounds are earthen formations such as hills and mountains, particularly if they appear artificial. A mound may be any rounded area of topographically higher ...

, the Yankees got runners on by a base hit by

, who advanced to second on an

error An error (from the Latin ''error'', meaning "wandering") is an action which is inaccurate or incorrect. In some usages, an error is synonymous with a mistake. The etymology derives from the Latin term 'errare', meaning 'to stray'. In statistics ...

by Austin Jackson. A

walk Walking (also known as ambulation) is one of the main gaits of terrestrial locomotion among legged animals. Walking is typically slower than running and other gaits. Walking is defined by an ' inverted pendulum' gait in which the body vaults ...

brought Brett Gardner to the plate with two on and two out. After a 12-pitch at bat, Gardner hit an RBI single scoring Hicks. Frazier then scored when

's throw bounced away from

to make it 5–2.

pitched a two-inning save for his second save of the series. The Yankees clinched the ALDS when Chapman struck out Jackson, and completed the series comeback, becoming just the seventh team to come back from a 2–0 deficit in a

division series The Division Series is the quarterfinal round of the Major League Baseball playoffs. Four series are played in this round, two each for both the American League and the National League. 1981 season The first use of the term "Division Series" date ...

since the wild-card format was introduced in

1995 File:1995 Events Collage V2.png, From left, clockwise: O.J. Simpson is acquitted of the murders of Nicole Brown Simpson and Ronald Goldman from the year prior in "The Trial of the Century" in the United States; The Great Hanshin earthquake str ...

. The Yankees previously accomplished this feat in 2001 against the Oakland Athletics. They are also just the second team to do it twice in the Division Series after the

, who accomplished this in

1999 File:1999 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: The funeral procession of King Hussein of Jordan in Amman; the 1999 İzmit earthquake kills over 17,000 people in Turkey; the Columbine High School massacre, one of the first major school shoot ...

(also against the Indians) and 2003 (also against the

Athletics Athletics may refer to: Sports * Sport of athletics, a collection of sporting events that involve competitive running, jumping, throwing, and walking ** Track and field, a sub-category of the above sport * Athletics (physical culture), competi ...

Composite line score

2017 ALDS (3–2):

defeated

Houston vs. Boston

This was the first postseason meeting between the Astros and Red Sox.

Game 1

The Astros got to work quickly against

Chris Sale Christopher Allen Sale (born March 30, 1989) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Boston Red Sox of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for the Chicago White Sox, with whom he made his major league debut ...

in Game 1 when Alex Bregman and

José Altuve José Carlos Altuve (; born May 6, 1990) is a Venezuelan professional baseball second baseman for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros signed Altuve as an amateur free agent in 2007, and he made his major league debut ...

hit back-to-back home runs in the first inning to jump out to a quick 2–0 lead. The Red Sox answered with a run of their own in the top of the second when Sandy León drove in

Mitch Moreland Mitchell Austin Moreland (born September 6, 1985), nicknamed "2-Bags", is an American professional baseball first baseman who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Texas Rangers, Boston Red Sox, San Diego Padres ...

with an RBI single; however, the chance for more was cut off when

Josh Reddick William Joshua Reddick (born February 19, 1987) is an American professional baseball outfielder who plays for the Perth Heat in the Australian Baseball League. The Boston Red Sox selected Reddick in the 17th round of the 2006 MLB draft, and he ...

threw

Dustin Pedroia Dustin Luis Pedroia (born August 17, 1983) is an American former professional baseball second baseman who played his entire Major League Baseball career for the Boston Red Sox, from 2006 to 2019. He was a four-time All-Star, and won the Americ ...

out trying to take third on the play. Rafael Devers would tie the game in the fourth with a sacrifice fly to bring it to 2–2.

Justin Verlander Justin Brooks Verlander ( ; born February 20, 1983) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the New York Mets of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Detroit Tigers and Houston Astros. From Manakin-Sabot, ...

would end the threat there and hold the Red Sox to those two runs over six innings. In the bottom of the fourth, Marwin González laced a double to right-center to drive in two more runs while Altuve hit his second home run of the game, and second off Sale, in the fifth. Brian McCann continued the onslaught of Sale in the sixth when he hit a two-run single off Joe Kelly to bring the score to 7–2. Sale ended his day with five IP, seven earned runs, and three home runs allowed in his first postseason start. Altuve made Astros history in his next at-bat, homering for the third time of the game against Austin Maddox. He became the first Astros player to hit three home runs in a postseason game and just the ninth player ever to do so. It was the first time since

Pablo Sandoval Pablo Emilio Sandoval Reyes (born August 11, 1986) is a Venezuelan-American professional baseball third baseman for the Olmecas de Tabasco of the Mexican League. He previously played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the San Francisco Giants, ...

hit three homers off Verlander in Game 1 of the 2012 World Series.

Joe Musgrove Joseph Anthony Musgrove (born December 4, 1992) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played within the Toronto Blue Jays, Houston Astros, and Pittsburgh Pirates organ ...

pitched a perfect ninth to seal the Astros victory and give them a 1–0 start to the series.

Game 2

For the second straight day, the Astros defeated the Red Sox 8–2.

Carlos Correa Carlos Javier Correa Oppenheimer Jr. (born September 22, 1994) is a Puerto Rican professional baseball shortstop who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Houston Astros, who selected him first overall in th ...

got the offense going with a two-run home run in the first inning off

Drew Pomeranz Thomas Andrew "Drew" Pomeranz (born November 22, 1988), nicknamed Big Smooth, is an American professional baseball pitcher for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played for the Colorado Rockies, Oakland Athletics, ...

. Jackie Bradley Jr. got Boston on the board in the second inning with an RBI single with two on.

George Springer George Chelston Springer III (born September 19, 1989) is an American professional baseball outfielder for the Toronto Blue Jays of Major League Baseball (MLB). He played for the Houston Astros from 2014 to 2020. The Astros selected Springer i ...

hit his first home run of the postseason in the bottom of the third while

drove in another run with a single after an Alex Bregman double. Dallas Keuchel went 5 innings with seven strikeouts and one earned run while Pomeranz did not make it out of the third inning while giving up four earned runs and giving up two home runs. The Astros broke the game open in the sixth. Eduardo Rodríguez allowed a leadoff single and subsequent hit-by-pitch. Springer's forceout off Addison Reed moved Marwin González to third before he scored on Bregman's sacrifice fly. After an intentional walk, Correa hit a two-run double, then

Evan Gattis James Evan Gattis (born August 18, 1986) is an American former professional baseball designated hitter and catcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Atlanta Braves and Houston Astros. Gattis has also earned the nickname of "El Os ...

rounded out the inning with an RBI single. The Red Sox got a run in the ninth when Christian Vázquez singled with one out, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on Bradley Jr.'s RBI single before

Ken Giles Kenneth Robert Giles (born September 20, 1990) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is currently a free agent. He previously played for the Philadelphia Phillies, Houston Astros, Toronto Blue Jays, and Seattle Mariners. Exposed to b ...

shut things down and gave the Astros a 2–0 advantage going into Boston for Game 3.

Game 3

In Game 3, Houston, looking for a sweep, jump to a 3–0 lead when

singled to lead off the first, moved to second on a wild pitch, and scored on

's single, then

hit a two-run home run one out later. However,

Doug Fister Douglas Wildes Fister (born February 4, 1984) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Seattle Mariners, Detroit Tigers, Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, Boston Red Sox, and Texas ...

and four relievers held the Astros scoreless for the rest of the game. The Red Sox loaded the bases with no outs in the second on two singles and a walk, but scored only once on Sandy León's single. Next inning,

doubled with two outs and scored on

Hanley Ramírez Hanley Ramírez (born December 23, 1983) is a Dominican-American former professional baseball shortstop. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Boston Red Sox, Florida / Miami Marlins, Los Angeles Dodgers, and Cleveland Indians. Ram� ...

's double. Francisco Liriano relieved starter

Brad Peacock Bradley Joseph Peacock (born February 2, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher who is a free agent. He has played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Washington Nationals, Houston Astros, and Boston Red Sox. Listed at and , he th ...

and allowed a two-run home run to Rafael Devers that put the Red Sox up 4–3. The score remained that until the Red Sox blew the game open in the seventh.

Lance McCullers Jr. Lance Graye McCullers Jr. (born October 2, 1993) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Houston Astros of Major League Baseball (MLB). The Astros selected McCullers in the first round of the 2012 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut i ...

allowed a leadoff walk and single, then Moreland singled to load the bases off

Chris Devenski Christopher Michael Devenski (born November 13, 1990), also known as "Devo", is an American professional baseball pitcher in the Los Angeles Angels organization. He played in MLB for the Houston Astros from 2016 to 2020, and the Diamondbacks fr ...

. Ramírez's double scored two and Devers's single scored another.

relieved Devenski after getting an out, Jackie Bradley Jr.'s three-run home run capped the scoring at 10–3 Red Sox. Addison Reed and Carson Smith pitched a scoreless eighth and ninth, respectively, as the Red Sox forced a Game 4.

Game 4

Trying to force a return to Houston for Game 5, the Red Sox sent 2016 AL Cy Young Award winner

Rick Porcello Frederick Alfred Porcello III (born December 27, 1988) is an American former professional baseball pitcher. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) for the Detroit Tigers, Boston Red Sox and New York Mets. Selected by the Tigers in the 2007 MLB ...

to the mound to try and stifle the Astros offense while Charlie Morton was tasked with helping the Astros advance. The Astros struck first when

scored on a groundball hit by

that resulted in a double play in the first inning. The Red Sox promptly responded with a home run by

Xander Bogaerts Xander Jan Bogaerts (born October 1, 1992; ), nicknamed "the X-Man" and "Bogey" or "Bogie", is an Aruban professional baseball shortstop for the San Diego Padres of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the Boston Re ...

in the bottom of the frame. Springer reclaimed the lead for the Astros with an RBI single in the top of the second while Morton was able to escape a bases-loaded, no-out jam in the bottom of the inning.

was brought in for relief in the fourth and tossed four scoreless innings. In response, the Astros brought in

in the fifth to shut down the Sox, but not before Andrew Benintendi launched a 2-run homer to grab a 3–2 lead. Those would be the only runs Verlander gave up in his 2 innings of work. Alex Bregman rocked a game-tying shot in the top of the eighth off Sale, his second of the series. After giving up another hit, Sale's day was done.

Craig Kimbrel Craig Michael Kimbrel (born May 28, 1988) is an American professional baseball pitcher for the Philadelphia Phillies of Major League Baseball (MLB). He has previously played in MLB for the San Diego Padres, Boston Red Sox, Atlanta Braves, Chicag ...

was brought in and gave up a walk before

gave the Astros the lead on a two-out single to make it 4–3.

Carlos Beltrán Carlos Iván Beltrán (; born April 24, 1977) is a Puerto Rican former professional baseball player. He played in Major League Baseball (MLB) as an outfielder from 1998 to 2017 for the Kansas City Royals, Houston Astros, New York Mets, San Fran ...

added an RBI double in the top of the ninth for an insurance run.

, who pitched a scoreless eighth inning, gave up a leadoff inside-the-park home run to Rafael Devers in the bottom of the ninth. He then retired the side to send the Astros to their first American League Championship Series and their first postseason series win since 2005. The Red Sox were knocked out of the playoffs in the first round for the second year in a row, having been swept by the

in the

2016 American League Division Series The 2016 American League Division Series (ALDS) were two best-of-five game series to determine the participating teams in the 2016 American League Championship Series of Major League Baseball. The three divisional winners (seeded 1-3) and the wi ...

. This was the first postseason series victory for the Astros since the

2005 National League Championship Series The 2005 National League Championship Series (NLCS), the second round of the 2005 National League playoffs, matched the Central Division champion and defending league champion St. Louis Cardinals against the wild card qualifier Houston Astros, ...

. Two days later, Farrell was fired by the Red Sox (having gone to the playoffs three times in five seasons with a World Series title and two first round exits); after the season ended,

Alex Cora Jose Alexander Cora (born October 18, 1975) is a Puerto Rican baseball manager and former infielder who is the manager of the Boston Red Sox in Major League Baseball (MLB). He previously played in MLB for 14 seasons with the Red Sox, Los Angele ...

of the Astros coaching staff was hired as the Red Sox manager.

Composite line score

2017 ALDS (3–1): Houston Astros defeated

References

External links

2017 Major League Baseball postseason schedule
{{New York Yankees

American League Division Series In Major League Baseball, the American League Division Series (ALDS) determines which two teams from the American League will advance to the American League Championship Series. The Division Series consists of two best-of-five series, featuring e ...

American League Division Series

Boston Red Sox postseason Cleveland Indians postseason Houston Astros postseason New York Yankees postseason

Sports competitions in Boston 2010s in Cleveland

Fenway Park 2010s in the Bronx Yankee Stadium