MLB playoffs top plays: Houston Astros defeat Boston Red Sox in ALCS Game 1

Updated Oct 16, 2021 12:39 am ET

It was a clash of MLB postseason titans as the Houston Astros defeated the Boston Red Sox 5-4 in Game 1 of the ALCS on FOX.

Friday’s matchup included a revolving door of pitching changes, with seven players taking the mound for the Astros (Framber Valdez, Yimi García, Cristian Javier, Phil Maton, Brooks Raley, Ryne Stanek, Kendall Graveman and Ryan Pressly) and eight for the Red Sox (Chris Sale, Adam Ottavin, Josh Taylor, Ryan Brasier, Tanner Houck, Hansel Robles, Hirokazu Sawamura and Martín Pérez).

Here are the top plays from Friday:

Houston Astros 5, Boston Red Sox 4

Pitching woes

After advancing to third on a wild pitch from Red Sox ace Sale, José Altuve scored for the Astros on a sacrifice fly from Yordan Alvarez. 

Headed into the second inning, Houston led 1-0.

Valdez's first K

Astros pitcher Valdez came up with his first strikeout of the night in the second inning with this dazzling curveball.

And how about this throw from Astros shortstop Carlos Correa? Don't blink, or you might miss it.

Hernández holds off Houston

To close out the second inning, Red Sox center fielder Kiké Hernández made a diving catch with the bases loaded to keep Houston from extending its lead.

Boston strikes back

In the top of the third, Hernández came up with another big play for Boston, homering to knot things up at one run apiece.

It didn't stay tied for long. Xander Bogaerts scored for Boston on an error by second baseman Altuve, his first this postseason.

And the Sox tacked on one more before their half of the inning was over.

Headed into the fourth, Boston led 3-1.

The Kiké Show

In the top of the fourth, Javier took over on the mound for Houston, and Hernández continued to make the most of his time at bat.

Sweet 16

In the bottom of the fifth, Astros left fielder Michael Brantley singled to center and climbed the hitting-streak leaderboard in the process.

All gas, no breaks

The Astros had a chance to tie things up in the bottom of the fifth, with two players on base, but Hernández had other ideas.

Astros answer

In the bottom of the sixth, Altuve hit a blast to left field, bringing in Chas McCormick to knot things up 3-3. Just like that, Houston was back in it. 

Altuve is the fastest player in MLB history to reach 20 postseason home runs, having done so in 68 career playoff games.

Crushed by Correa

With momentum on their side, the Astros regained the lead in the seventh, bringing Houston fans to their feet. 

Correa and everyone else knew instantly that this was a home run.

Correa has four career go-ahead home runs in the seventh inning or later of playoff games, the most in MLB postseason history, and he has 55 postseason RBIs, the most among active players.

Houston extends

In the eighth, Yuli Gurriel scored for the Astros on a sacrifice fly from Altuve, but what was maybe more impressive was Hernández's effort to throw Gurriel out.

Too little, too late

In the top of the ninth, the Red Sox got a scoring boost from none other than Hernández, who homered to left field, but it wasn't enough to pull off a comeback, and the Astros took Game 1 5-4.