BOSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox’ 2-1 walkoff win in 10 innings against the Astros at Fenway Park on Friday:
1) Ceddanne Rafaela’s swinging bunt put runners at the corners with no outs in the 10th inning. Star rookie Roman Anthony then delivered a walkoff RBI single over center fielder Taylor Trammell’s head. It came off Astros left-handed reliever Bennett Sousa. It was his first career walkoff RBI.
2) The Red Sox played the infield in with the automatic extra-inning runner at third base and one out in the top of the 10th inning. Mauricio Dubón grounded to shortstop Trevor Story who fired home to cut down Chas McCormick at the plate and keep the game tied 1-1.
Reliever Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless 10th, getting Jeremy Peña to fly out to left field for the final out.
3) The Red Sox improved to 60-51. They are 35-21 at Fenway Park.
4) Righty Cooper Criswell posted a 3.49 ERA in 18 starts last season. But Boston has had him far down on its starting depth chart this season; he entered Friday having thrown just 10 ⅔ innings in the majors in 2025.
Criswell showed the Red Sox what they have been missing out on while keeping him at Triple-A Worcester where he has posted a 3.32 ERA in 14 outings (13 starts).
The 29-year-old allowed just one run, seven hits and two walks while striking out four in 7 innings against the Astros.
5) The Astros took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on Christian Walker’s 389-foot home run to left-center field. It was the lone run Criswell allowed. Walker connected on a changeup low in the zone.
6) The Red Sox tied it 1-1 in the seventh inning. Trevor Story drew a leadoff walk and stole second. Masataka Yoshida reached when he got hit by a pitch. Carlos Narváez’s sac bunt put Story at third and Yoshida at second with one out. Wilyer Abreu followed with a game-tying RBI sac fly to left field.
7) Jarren Duran made a nice leaping catch up against the center field wall on Carlos Correa’s 383-foot fly ball in the fourth inning.
8) Astros starter Hunter Brown tossed 7 innings and allowed one run, four hits and one walk while striking out six.
9) Trevor Story doubled off the Green Monster against Astros closer Josh Hader with one out in the ninth. Pinch hitter Rob Refsnyder walked to put two men on base.
With two outs, Wilyer Abreu hit two balls just barely foul down the right field line before he struck out swinging to send the game into extra innings.
10) The Red Sox and Astros will play the second game of their two-game series Saturday at 4:10 p.m. Righty Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.72 ERA) is scheduled to pitch for Boston opposite lefty Colton Gordon (4-3, 4.74 ERA).
