The Houston Astros took on the Boston Red Sox Sunday afternoon for the final game of the series. After losing the first game and bouncing back in the second, the Astros found themselves in another tight battle that went into extra innings.
They kicked off the 10th tied 1-1, but Houston was able to break through, with Cam Smith delivering the big blow, driving in two runs in the top half of the inning. The only question left was whether they could hold on and keep things simple in the bottom of the 10th to take the series.
During their seven-game season-opening homestand, Houston swept the Red Sox and looked poised to carry that momentum into 2026. However, things quickly took a turn, and the road hasn't been kind to Houston since.
The Astros have still shown flashes of the team they can be, and when they're at their best, they're dangerous, often with it starting on the mound.
Cody Bolton got the start for the Astros against Boston and it was kind of a mixed bag. He gave Houston some solid innings early on, but command issues showed up and kept things from ever really settling in.
There were moments where he looked in control and worked out of trouble, but also stretches where walks and deep counts put him in tougher spots than he needed to be in. That's been the story for him this season at times, and it showed again here. Not really a dominant outing, but not a collapse either. More of a serviceable fill-in start than anything sharp or overpowering.
That being said, after driving in two runs in the top of the 10th, the Astros were able to hold on, with Bryan Abreu locking things down in the final inning, and take the series for the second time this season.
While the first series between the Astros and Red Sox ended in a sweep, two out of three is still a strong result for a Houston team that hasn't had the road treat them well so far in 2026.
Now the Astros head back home to take on the Los Angeles Dodgers on Monday. The Dodgers are considered one of the best teams in MLB this season, so Houston will need to carry this momentum into a tough matchup and take advantage of playing at home.