Due up are Kiké Hernández, Kyle Schwarber, and Xander Bogaerts, and the Red Sox couldn’t have lined it up any better: Hernández has three hits and Schwarber has one, while Bogaerts has walked twice.

Hansel Robles got two outs before Carlos Correa thumped a two-strike changeup to left field for his first homer of this postseason and the 18th of his career.

Kyle Schwarber singled to lead off the seventh but didn’t advance.

Tanner Houck had a runner on with two outs in the sixth when Jose Altuve crushed a first-pitch slider to left field for a game-tying homer.

The Sox left Alex Verdugo at third base in the sixth inning.

He singled but Brasier was able to retire lefthanded hitting Kyle Tucker on a fly ball to center. Still 3-1 Sox through 5 innings.

They’re 1 for 7 with runners in scoring position through four innings and have left six runners on base.

Kiké Hernández doubled with two outs in the fourth before Christian Javier struck out Kyle Schwarber and Xander Bogaerts.

He left with a 3-1 lead, which is what the Sox cared about.

Alex Cora’s gamble wasn’t a resounding success but it did the job. .

Framber Valdez.

After Kiké Hernández’s homer, Xander Bogaerts walked and Rafael Devers singled.

Martinez grounded a ball over the mound that should have been a double play but Jose Altuve booted it.

The Sox had a chance for more but Valdez struck out Alex Verdugo and righthanded reliever Yimi Garcia struck out Christian Arroyo.

Houston’s Jose Altuve misplayed a grounder and the Red Sox took a 2-1 lead in the top of the third, then made it 3-1 when Hunter Renfroe doubled down the third base line.

Righthander Yimi García has replaced Framber Valdez on the mound for Houston.

Chris Sale is through two innings thanks to Kiké Hernández.

He then picked up his pace and energy and struck out Jose Altuve on four pitches.

The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the first inning on Yordan Alvarez’s sacrifice fly to left field that allowed Jose Altuve to score from third.

It was a far too eventful first inning for Chris Sale, who threw 29 pitches to five hitters and allowed a run.

The Sox sent six men to the plate and made Framber Valdez throw 21 pitches in the first inning.

From Alex Speier:.

The Red Sox are making an awfully big bet in Game 1 that the version of Chris Sale who pitched in Game 2 of the ALDS – the one who got knocked out in five innings by the Rays – won’t make a recurring appearance in Game 1 of the ALCS against the Astros.

October says hello to Alex Cora

RED SOX: Hernández CF, Schwarber 1B, Bogaerts SS, Devers 3B, Martinez DH, Renfroe RF, Verdugo LF, Arroyo 2B, Vázquez C

Pitching: LHP Chris Sale (5-1, 3.16 ERA)

Pitching: LHP Framber Valdez (11-6, 3.14 ERA)

Pitchers (13): Ryan Brasier, Nate Eovaldi, Darwinzon Hernandez, Tanner Houck, Adam Ottavino, Martín Pérez, Nick Pivetta, Hansel Robles, Eduardo Rodriguez, Chris Sale, Hirokazu Sawamura, Josh Taylor, Garrett Whitlock

Infielders (5): Christian Arroyo, Xander Bogaerts, Bobby Dalbec, Rafael Devers, Travis Shaw

Martinez, Hunter Renfroe, Kyle Schwarber, Alex Verdugo

Pitchers (13): Luis Garcia, Yimi García, Kendall Graveman, Zack Greinke, Cristian Javier, Phil Maton, Jake Odorizzi, Ryan Pressly, Brooks Raley, Ryne Stanek, Blake Taylor, José Urquidy, Framber Valdez

Infielders (5): Jose Altuve, Alex Bregman, Carlos Correa, Aledmys Díaz, Yuli Gurriel

Outfielders (6): Yordan Álvarez, Michael Brantley, Chas McCormick, Jake Meyers, Jose Siri, Kyle Tucker

Houston’s starting pitcher, Framber Valdez, owns a 2-1 record with a 1.59 ERA in four career appearances (two starts) against the Red Sox