| 2018 American League Championship Series | ||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||||||||
| ||||||||||
| Dates | October 13–18 | |||||||||
| MVP | Jackie Bradley Jr. (Boston) | |||||||||
| Umpires | Vic Carapazza,Mark Carlson,Chris Guccione,James Hoye (Games 1–2),Bill Miller (Games 3–5),Mark Wegner,Joe West (crew chief) | |||||||||
| Broadcast | ||||||||||
| Television | TBS | |||||||||
| TV announcers | Brian Anderson,Ron Darling andLauren Shehadi | |||||||||
| Radio | ESPN | |||||||||
| Radio announcers | Jon Sciambi andJessica Mendoza | |||||||||
| ALDS |
| |||||||||
| ||||||||||
The2018 American League Championship Series was a best-of-seven series inMajor League Baseball's2018 postseason pitting thedefending World Series champion and second-seededHouston Astros against the overall #1 seedBoston Red Sox, for theAmerican League (AL)pennant and the right to play in the2018 World Series. The series was played in a 2–3–2 format, with the first two and last two (had they been necessary) games played at the home ballpark of the team with the better regular season record, the Red Sox.[1] The series was the 49th in league history, withTBS televising all games in the United States. The Red Sox defeated the Astros in five games.
For the second year in a row,Major League Baseball soldpresenting sponsorships to all of its postseason series; as with theNLCS, this ALCS was sponsored byGoogle Assistant and was officially known as theAmerican League Championship Series presented by Google Assistant.[2]
The Red Sox would go on to defeat theLos Angeles Dodgers in theWorld Series in five games to win their ninth World Series championship.
The Astros won theAmerican League West division with a record of 103–59, then swept theCleveland Indians in theAmerican League Division Series. This was the Astros' sixth League Championship Series and second in the American League, their prior AL appearance being a2017 ALCS win over theNew York Yankees in seven games. Houston also appeared in fourNLCS, winning once and losing thrice, before joining theAmerican League in 2013.
The Red Sox won theAmerican League East division with a record of 108–54, then defeated theNew York Yankees in the American League Division Series, 3–1. This was Boston's 11th ALCS. They had a prior record of 5–5 in those series, most recently winning in2013 and most recently losing in2008.
The 2018 ALCS was just the 12th postseason match-up to feature two teams with 100 wins, though the third since the2017 World Series. The 211 combined regular season wins for both teams was the second-most of any postseason series ever, just behind the1998 World Series. It was also the first ALCS to feature two 100-win teams since1977,[3] when theNew York Yankees (100–62) defeated theKansas City Royals (102–60).
Boston and Houston had met once before in the postseason, with the Astros winning the2017 ALDS, 3–1; that yearAlex Cora was Houston'sbench coach before becoming manager of Boston for the upcoming season. Houston was 4–3 in their seven games against Boston during the 2018 regular season.
For the 2018 regular season.[4][5]
| Stat | Boston (MLB rank) | Houston (MLB rank) | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Batting average | .268 (1st) | .255 (7th) | Batting |
| OPS | .792 (1st) | .754 (7th) | |
| Home runs | 208 (9th) | 205 (10th) | |
| ERA | 3.75 (8th) | 3.11 (1st) | Pitching |
| Strikeouts | 1,558 (4th) | 1,687 (1st) | |
| BAA | .237 (8th) | .217 (1st) |
Boston won the series, 4–1.
| Game | Date | Score | Location | Time | Attendance |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | October 13 | Houston Astros – 7, Boston Red Sox – 2 | Fenway Park | 4:03 | 38,007[6] |
| 2 | October 14 | Houston Astros – 5,Boston Red Sox – 7 | Fenway Park | 3:45 | 37,960[7] |
| 3 | October 16 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 2 | Minute Maid Park | 3:52 | 43,102[8] |
| 4 | October 17 | Boston Red Sox – 8, Houston Astros – 6 | Minute Maid Park | 4:33 | 43,277[9] |
| 5 | October 18 | Boston Red Sox – 4, Houston Astros – 1 | Minute Maid Park | 3:32 | 43,210[10] |
.jpg)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 7 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Justin Verlander (1–0) LP:Joe Kelly (0–1) Home runs: HOU:Josh Reddick (1),Yuli Gurriel (1) BOS: None Attendance: 38,007 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Three-time All-Star and two-time World Series ChampionKevin Youkilis threw out the ceremonial first pitch for the Red Sox. The Astros struck first on aGeorge Springer two-run single in the top of the second off of an erratic Chris Sale, eventually ending Sale's night after four innings. Verlander cruised through four innings before running into trouble in the fifth, walkingMitch Moreland with the bases loaded and allowingJackie Bradley Jr. to score on a wild pitch to even the score at two. Verlander struck outAndrew Benintendi on a controversial called strike that resulted in Red Sox managerAlex Cora getting ejected in between innings. The Astros responded in the top of the sixth with a two-out RBI single byCarlos Correa afterJoe Kelly hitAlex Bregman with a pitch andYuli Gurriel reached on a fielding error byEduardo Núñez. Verlander came back to retire the side in order in the sixth. The Astros and Red Sox would trade zeroes until the top of the ninth inning which was led off by aJosh Reddick home run off ofBrandon Workman. Workman then, after getting an out, walkedJose Altuve and Alex Bregman before Yuli Gurriel hit a three-run home run to blow the game open at 7–2. The Red Sox ended the night having walked 10 Astros hitters and hitting three more.Collin McHugh came in to finish the game off and give the Astros a loud 1–0 lead in the series.
.jpg)
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston | 0 | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 7 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston | 2 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 1 | X | 7 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Matt Barnes (1–0) LP:Gerrit Cole (0–1) Sv:Craig Kimbrel (1) Home runs: HOU:Marwin González (1) BOS: None Attendance: 37,960 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Jonny Gomes, a member of the2013 World Series champion Red Sox, threw theceremonial first pitch.[11]Mookie Betts doubled offGerrit Cole andAndrew Benintendi singled him home to open the scoring for the Red Sox.Xander Bogaerts reached second on Cole's throwing error with one out in the first, thenRafael Devers singled home Benintendi for a 2–0 lead. Starting pitcherDavid Price allowed the Astros to get on the board in the second asCarlos Correa hit an infield single andMartín Maldonado doubled, withGeorge Springer doubling them both home to tie it. An inning later,Yuli Gurriel singled and an out later,Marwin González homered over the Green Monster for a 4–2 lead. But the Red Sox struck back in the bottom of the inning. Bogaerts singled,Steve Pearce doubled and Devers walked to load the bases. One out later,Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a bases-clearing double to give the Red Sox a 5–4 lead, which they would never relinquish. Price would fall an out shy of being credited the victory, allowing four runs, five hits, and four walks.Matt Barnes relieved him in the fifth with two outs and retired the next four batters for the victory. In the seventh, after Betts walked,Lance McCullers Jr. threw a wild pitch, advancing Betts to second, then to third on a Maldonado passed ball. One out later, another Maldonado passed ball scored Betts to make it 6–4. The next inning saw Devers single to center; two outs later,Mitch Moreland singled, andA. J. Hinch immediately sent outHéctor Rondón to face Betts, who doubled to center, scoring Devers to extend their lead to three runs.Craig Kimbrel pitched the ninth, allowing a two-out double by Springer and aJose Altuve RBI single to bring the Astros to within 7–5. Kimbrel then retiredAlex Bregman, who flew out to Benintendi to end the game, earning his third save this postseason, and tying the series at one all.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 8 | 9 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 7 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Nathan Eovaldi (1–0) LP:Joe Smith (0–1) Home runs: BOS:Steve Pearce (1),Jackie Bradley Jr. (1) HOU: None Attendance: 43,102 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former AstrosAll-Star playerLance Berkman threw theceremonial first pitch.[12]Dallas Keuchel was Houston's starting pitcher, whileNathan Eovaldi started for Boston. The Red Sox jumped out to an early 2–0 lead in the top of the first inning, on two singles, a double, and anRBI ground out. The Astros responded in the bottom of the inning with a run on three singles, trimming Boston's lead to 2–1. Houston tied the game in the bottom of the fifth, asJose Altuve worked a two-out walk andAlex Bregman drove him in with a double under the glove of Boston third basemanRafael Devers. In the top of the sixth, Houston relieverJoe Smith took over from Keuchel, who had allowed two runs on four hits in five innings pitched. Smith allowed a home run toSteve Pearce, putting Boston back in the lead, 3–2, which they would never relinquish. In the bottom of the seventh,Ryan Brasier relieved Red Sox starter Eovaldi, who had allowed two runs on six hits in six innings pitched. With two outs in the top of the eighth, Boston had thebases loaded whenpinch hitterMitch Moreland washit by a pitch fromRoberto Osuna, forcing in a run.Jackie Bradley Jr. then hit agrand slam off of Osuna, putting Boston ahead, 8–2. The game ended without further scoring,George Springer striking out to end it. Eovaldi got the win for Boston, while Smith took the loss for Houston.
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 2 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 8 | 11 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 0 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 13 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:Joe Kelly (1–1) LP:Josh James (0–1) Sv:Craig Kimbrel (2) Home runs: BOS:Jackie Bradley Jr. (2) HOU:George Springer (1),Tony Kemp (1) Attendance: 43,277 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former Astros playerChris Burke, who hit a series-winning home run in the2005 NLDS, threw theceremonial first pitch.[13]Charlie Morton started for Houston, his first postseason appearance this year. Boston scored two runs in the first inning, on ahit by pitch,walk,wild pitch, and a two-outRBI single byRafael Devers.Rick Porcello started for Boston, his second start and fourth appearance of this postseason. In the bottom of the first, a deep drive and potential two-run homer to right field byJose Altuve, whichMookie Betts nearly caught with a leaping grab at the wall, was ruled an out due tofan interference. The controversial call was made by right field umpireJoe West.[14] Houston got a run back in the bottom of the second, whenJosh Reddick led off with a double, and scored on a single byCarlos Correa. In the top of the third,Andrew Benintendi hit a leadoff double, moved to third on a wild pitch, and scored on a double byXander Bogaerts, giving the Red Sox a 3–1 lead.Josh James relieved Morton during the third, Morton having allowed three runs on three hits in2+1⁄3 innings pitched. AGeorge Springer home run to open the bottom of the third cut the lead to 3–2. Altuve then doubled, and was later driven in on a single by Reddick, evening the score, 3–3. A homer byTony Kemp in the bottom of the fourth put the Astros ahead, 4–3. In the top of the fifth, Benintendi again doubled and was driven in by Bogaerts, tying the game at four all. Porcello, who had allowed four runs on seven hits, was relieved byJoe Kelly for the bottom of the fifth;Yuli Gurriel singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single by Correa, putting the Astros back ahead, 5–4.Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer in the top of the sixth, giving the Red Sox a 6–5 lead, which they would not relinquish. In the seventh, Boston added a run on a single and three walks. An inning later, Betts singled, advanced to second on a wild pitch, and scored on a single byJ. D. Martinez, increasing Boston's lead to 8–5. In the bottom of the eighth,Alex Bregman was hit by a pitch, advanced to third on a Springer double, and scored on a ground out by Altuve, trimming Boston's lead to 8–6. Red SoxcloserCraig Kimbrel allowed three walks in the bottom of the ninth to load the bases, but got the final out on Benintendi's diving catch off a Bregman liner to left, for his fourthsave this postseason.[15]
At four hours and 33 minutes, this was the second-longest nine-inning postseason game in MLB history;[16]2017 NLDS Game 5 between theChicago Cubs andWashington Nationals was four minutes longer.[17]
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Boston | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 8 | 0 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Houston | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 5 | 1 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| WP:David Price (1–0) LP:Justin Verlander (1–1) Sv:Craig Kimbrel (3) Home runs: BOS:J. D. Martinez (1),Rafael Devers (1) HOU:Marwin González (2) Attendance: 43,210 Boxscore | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Former AstrosAll-Star playerJeff Kent threw theceremonial first pitch.[18]Justin Verlander, Game 1 winning pitcher, started for Houston, whileDavid Price, who got ano decision in Game 2, started for Boston.Chris Sale did not start for Boston due to the effects of being ill after Game 1.[19] Boston took a 1–0 lead in the top of the third inning on a home run byJ. D. Martinez, which they would not relinquish. In the top of the sixth,Mitch Moreland doubled,Ian Kinsler singled, andRafael Devers homered into theCrawford Boxes, putting Boston ahead, 4–0. Houston relieverRoberto Osuna entered to pitch the top of the seventh, replacing Verlander who had allowed four runs on seven hits in six innings pitched, while striking out four and walking two. Boston'sMatt Barnes entered to pitch the bottom of the seventh, replacing Price who had allowed no runs on three hits in six innings pitched, while striking out nine and walking none.Marwin González hit a two-out homer to left, reducing Boston's lead to 4–1. Boston's starter from Game 3,Nathan Eovaldi, came on in relief of Barnes, getting the final out of the seventh and holding Houston scoreless in the eighth. Osuna pitched through the ninth for Houston, allowing only one hit during his three innings. Red SoxcloserCraig Kimbrel entered to pitch the bottom of the ninth.Carlos Correa struck out,Yuli Gurriel walked, González struck out, andTony Kemp flied out to end the game and send the Red Sox to theWorld Series. Kimbrel recorded his fifth save this postseason,[20] while for Price, it was his first victory in 12 career postseason starts; his only previous postseason wins came as a reliever. As for Houston, their World Series reign was over, though they later won AL pennants in2019,2021 (which included a ALCS re-match with the Red Sox) and2022, as well as aWorld Series again in 2022.
Boston'sJackie Bradley Jr., who had nineRBIs in the series on three hits (a double and two home runs), was namedALCS MVP.[21]
2018 ALCS(4–1):Boston Red Sox beatHouston Astros
| Team | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | R | H | E | |||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Houston Astros | 1 | 5 | 4 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 21 | 37 | 3 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Boston Red Sox | 6 | 0 | 5 | 0 | 3 | 6 | 2 | 7 | 0 | 29 | 40 | 2 | |||||||||||||||||||||
| Total attendance: 205,556 Average attendance: 41,111 | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
.jpg)
A year later, both ALCS managers,Alex Cora andA.J. Hinch, would receive season-long bans from MLB due to their role in theHouston Astros sign stealing scandal, which alleged the organization used a video camera in the center field seats to observe the opposing catcher as he instructed the pitcher about the next pitch during the2017 and parts of the2018 seasons.[22] MLB's investigation determined that Red Sox manager Alex Cora, along with veteran playerCarlos Beltrán, helped mastermind the Astros' sign-stealing while serving as Hinch's bench coach in 2017.[23] Cora and Hinch served their suspensions in2020; Cora was quickly re-hired by the Red Sox, while Hinch was hired to manage theDetroit Tigers.
In addition to Houston's sign stealing scandal, an MLB investigation also found the Red Sox' guilty of electronic sign stealing in2018, though the report noted it "limited in scope and impact" compared to Houston.[24]
A rematch occurred three years later in the2021 American League Championship Series, with the Astros getting the upper hand this time, winning the series in six games.
Alex Bregman would play for the Alex Cora and Red Sox later in his career. The 2019MVP runner-up had prior ties to Boston as his grandfather Stan Bregman was a Washington lawyer who represented theWashington Senators and negotiated the hiring of Red Sox legendTed Williams as their manager. Stan Bregman was also part of the ownership group withGeorge Preston Marshall that moved theBoston Redskins to Washington, D.C., to become theWashington Redskins.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Franchise | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Ballparks | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Culture |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Lore |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Rivalries | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Administration |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| World Series championships (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| American League pennants (14) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Division championships (10) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wild card berths (9) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Minor league affiliates | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Broadcasting |
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
