The Red Sox lost their 3rd in a row overall with Saturday's 5-4 setback to the Astros in the middle game of their 3-Game Series at Fenway Park.  Red Sox hitters managed only 6 hits and struck out 15 times against Houston pitchers.  The Red Sox need to win Sunday's finale to avoid being swept for the 2nd straight year at Fenway by the Astros and or the 4th time this season.  

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The Red Sox had an opportunity in the Bottom of the 9th to at least time the game, but closer Josh Hader managed to slam the door shut on the threat.  Rafael Devers led off the 9th with a Double and Hader came back and got the next 3 hitters including Romy Gonzalez on a strikeout to end the game.  

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Tip Your Cap: Spencer Arrighetti earned the win for the Astros Saturday.  Arrighetti struck out 12 hitters the last time out in a win over the Tampa Bay Rays and on Saturday he established a new career-high with 13 strikeouts.  He walked only 1 in earning his 5th win of the season.  

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1-Man Wrecking Crew: Yordan Alverez hit a 2-out solo Home Run in the 1st inning and broke a 1-1 tie with a 2-run Home Run in the Top of the 6th Inning.  Alvarez has 6 career Home Runs against the Red Sox and all 6 have come at Fenway Park.  Alvarez has 4 RBIs in the series.  

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Where are the Hits?: The Red Sox managed only 6 hits and just 2 from the 3rd inning on in Friday night's loss in the series opener.  The Sox did not have a hit over the 1st 4 innings against Spencer Arrighetti Saturday.  Danny Jansen broke up the no-hit bid and shutout bid with a solo Home Run to start off the 5th Inning.  Arrighetti came back and retired the next 3 hitters.  Sox 2nd hit came on a solo Home Run off the bat of Masa Yoshida in the 7th inning.  Arrighetti came right back to strike out the next 3 hitters to end the inning and his day.  Ceddanne Rafaela reached with a 1-out single in the 8th.

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Threat in the 8th: Sox put together 3 hits---2 with 2 outs in the 8th inning and plated 2 runs to get to withing 1 run at 5-4.  Jarren Duran kept the inning alive with a 2-out single that sent Ceddanne Rafaela from 1st to 3rd.  Duran stole 2nd and Wilyer knocked in 2 runs with a single.  Masa Yoshida, 1st-pitch swinging, popped out to 3rd to and the inning.         

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Winck the Opener: Josh Winckowski got the nod as the starter/opener Saturday afternoon.  Winckowski gave up a 2-out solo Home Run to Yordan Alvarez in the Top of the 1st Inning.  He retired the side 1-2-3 in the 2nd and again in the 3rd and he got 8 ground ball outs over his 3 Innings.

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Back From the Minors: Brad Keller made his 1st appearance since being brought back up from Triple-A Worcester. Keller gave up Alvarez 2nd Home Run of the day and a solo shot to Alex Bregman in the top of the 7th.    

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What's Next?: Sox conclude their series with the Astros on Sunday.  Hunter Brown and James Paxton are the probably starters.      -----

Locked On Red Sox POSTCAST Notes: 

The Red Sox have struck out 10 or times in a game 59 times this season.

The Red Sox are now 27-30 at Fenway Park.    

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Locked On Red Sox POSTCAST follows every Red Sox game all season long. Join us when we go live on the Locked On Sports Boston YouTube Channel and engage in some Sox conversation. Hit Me Up On the X:  Steve Lenox (@LenoxOnBaseball) / X

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