Red Sox rookies shine in 4-1 victory over Astros

HOUSTON (AP) — The Boston Red Sox secured a 4-1 victory against the Houston Astros on Wednesday, propelled by impressive performances from rookies Ceddanne Rafaela and David Hamilton. Rafaela contributed significantly with two doubles, driving in two runs, while Hamilton capped off the game with a solo home run in the ninth inning. Rafaela's first double off veteran pitcher Justin Verlander gave the Red Sox a crucial 2-1 lead in the second inning, and he added another double in the seventh, emphasizing the importance of his late-game contributions. Verlander, making his first start since June 9 due to neck stiffness, pitched five innings, allowing four hits and two runs while striking out six. Despite the loss, Verlander expressed satisfaction with his performance, stating, “I felt good.” The Red Sox had previously been swept by the Astros at home earlier this month, making this series win particularly significant after their 6-5 victory on Tuesday night. Josh Winckowski earned the win for Boston after pitching a scoreless sixth inning, while Chris Martin secured his first save by striking out one in the ninth. The Red Sox took an early lead when Jarren Duran, who had a standout game the previous night, doubled and later scored on a single by Triston Casas. Meanwhile, the Astros made roster adjustments, sending Seth Martinez to Triple-A Sugar Land to accommodate Verlander’s return. As the Astros prepare for a four-game series against Baltimore starting Thursday, they have yet to announce their pitching rotation.