Price is right as Red Sox tie series

Associated Press

BOSTON

David Price was good enough, the Red Sox bullpen was even better, and Jackie Bradley Jr. delivered a go-ahead, three-run double off the Green Monster on Sunday night to lead Boston to a 7-5 victory over the Houston Astros and tie the AL Championship Series at one game apiece.

Price fell one out short of his first career postseason win as a starter but still went back to the winning clubhouse for the first time in 11 playoff starts.

Red Sox closer Craig Kimbrel gave up an RBI single to Jose Altuve with two outs in the ninth before Alex Bregman hit a flyball that was caught on the warning track in left field to end it, handing Houston its first loss in five playoff games this year.

Game 3 is Tuesday in Houston, followed by two more at Minute Maid Park and a chance for the defending World Series champion Astros to clinch a second straight AL pennant at home.

Price was spotted a two-run lead in the first inning and then fell behind 4-2 before Bradley clanged one off the Monster that Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez helplessly chased as it bounced back toward the infield.

Price left with a 5-4 lead after walking Tyler White on four pitches with two out in the fifth, his second walk of the inning; in all, the Red Sox left-hander was charged with four runs on five hits and four walks, striking out four.

Matt Barnes struck out Gonzalez to end the inning and then pitched a perfect sixth to earn the victory. Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless inning and erstwhile starter Rick Porcello set the Astros down 1-2-3 in the eighth.

Kimbrel retired the first two batters in the ninth, then George Springer hit his second double of the game. Altuve followed with a drive off the left-field wall, stopping at first when he slipped rounding the bag.

Bregman launched a high fly to left that Andrew Benintendi caught a step in front of the Monster.

Gerrit Cole, who was so dominant in his Division Series start against Cleveland, gave up a double to Mookie Betts — the first batter of the game — as Boston sent eight batters to the plate in the first. Benintendi singled to score Betts and scored himself on a single by Rafael Devers, who was making his first appearance of the series.

The AL Central champs tied it in the second on Springer’s two-run double down the right-field line. And when Gonzalez cleared the Monster — and the seats above them — with a two-run homer in the third, it looked like Price was headed for his 10th straight loss as a playoff starter (he has won two postseason games in relief.)