HOUSTON (AP) — In a series where the Boston Red Sox struggled to find their offense, Martín Pérez’s best start of the season allowed them to avoid being swept by the Houston Astros.
Pérez pitched 7 2/3 scoreless innings, and the Red Sox headed into their first matchup against the New York Yankees with a 5-1 win over the Astros on Thursday.
“It was a fun game,” Pérez said. “I enjoyed it and we got the win.”
Christian Arroyo’s first home run of the season, a three-run drive in the first inning, helped the Red Sox to the victory. His homer gave the Red Sox more runs than they’d managed in the previous two games combined in a series where the offense struggled mightily.
“It was an all-around good ballgame,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “For how bad it was the first three days, we can have a happy flight after this one.”
Pérez (4-2) yielded six hits and struck out four in his longest start this season to win his fourth straight decision.
“Today he was on top of his game,” Cora said. “He was amazing. He’s been amazing the whole season. We’re really happy with where he’s at.”
He had retired eight of the previous nine batters when Garrett Stubbs singled with one out in the eighth. He walked Aledmys Díaz with two outs, and Adam Ottavino retired Alex Bregman to end the inning.
Brandon Workman, signed to a minor league contract last month after he was released by the Chicago Cubs, was brought up from Triple-A Worcester and made his first Red Sox appearance since he was traded to Philadelphia last August. The 32-year-old right-hander, who pitched for Boston from 2013-14 and 2017-20, gave up Yuli Gurriel’s eighth home with one out in the ninth.
Boston headed to Yankee Stadium in second place in the AL East, two games behind…
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