The Astros tied the MLB record for most home runs in an inning, hitting five off Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi as part of a nine-run second to help Houston rout Boston 13-4 on Tuesday night.
Yordan Alvarez, Kyle Tucker, Jeremy Peña, Michael Brantley and Yuli Gurriel all went deep for the Astros, who set a franchise mark for most home runs in an inning. It has happened seven other times in league history.
Tucker added his second homer of the night and seventh of the season in the fourth inning – a grand slam off Tyler Danish — as Houston won for the 13th time in 15 games.
José Urquidy (3-1) allowed 12 hits and four runs, including home runs to Rafael Devers and J.D. Martinez, but lasted five innings to record the victory.
Eovaldi (1-2) became the third pitcher in major league history to surrender five homers in an inning, joining Chase Anderson (Sept. 17, 2020 vs Yankees) and Michael Blazek (July 28, 2017 vs. Nationals).
Eovaldi’s line: 1 2/3 innings, eight hits, nine runs (six earned) and five home runs over 39 pitches.
It seemed like it would be a much different night for the Red Sox after Eovaldi needed just five pitches to get Houston out in order in the first inning.
Devers put Boston in front 1-0 when he jumped on Urquidy’s 95 mph fastball and drove it over the center field wall for his seventh homer of the season.
Then things quickly fell apart for Boston after that.
Alvarez led off the second by matching Devers’ blast to center to tie it up.
Gurriel was next and hit a grounder to third, but Devers’ throw was mishandled by first baseman Franchy Cordero, allowing Gurriel to reach on the error.
Tucker then connected on an Eovaldi fastball and drilled his sixth homer of the season over the right field fence to make it 3-1.
Peña, a rookie who grew up in Rhode Island and played at Maine, made it back-to-back homers when he sent a line drive into the seats in left center. It was Peña’s first game back in the lineup since exiting last Thursday’s win at Minnesota with a sore right knee.
Eovaldi finally retired his first batter of the inning when Jose Siri flied out to right.
Martin Maldonado was next and singled, followed by a double by Jose Altuve. Michael Brantley then cleared the bases with his homer to right that pushed the lead to 7-1.
Alex Bregman grounded out, but Alvarez kept the inning alive with a single.
Gurriel put an end to Eovaldi’s night when he hit the fifth and final homer of the inning to center.
Boston cut into the lead in the third after a two-run home run by J.D. Martinez.
But after having a double-play overturned on review, followed by an error by Devers that allowed Alvarez to reach on a fielder’s choice, Houston loaded the bases.
Tucker promptly cleared them with a grand slam that made it 13-3.
According to MLB.com, since 1974 when inning-by-inning data started, no Red Sox pitcher had given up more than three homers in an inning.
