Red Sox manager Alex Cora said Fenway Park had a playoff atmosphere Friday night, when the Red Sox improved their home record to 35-21.
The teams will return to Fenway Saturday afternoon for the second game of a three-game set, and Houston lefthander Colton Gordon will face off against Boston righty Walker Buehler.
First pitch is at 4:10 p.m. Here’s your preview.
ASTROS (62-48): Altuve 2B, Sanchez LF, Correa SS, Walker 1B, Diaz DH, Caratini C, Smith RF, Trammell CF, Urias 3B
Pitching: LHP Colton Gordon (4-3, 4.74 ERA)
RED SOX (60-51): Gonzalez 2B, Bregman 3B, Anthony RF, Refsnyder DH, Story SS, Narváez C, Duran LF, Rafaela CF, Toro 1B
Pitching: RHP Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.72 ERA)
Time: 4:10 p.m.
TV, radio: NESN, WEEI-FM 93.7
Astros vs. Buehler: Jose Altuve 1-5, Victor Caratini 1-8, Carlos Correa 2-5, Mauricio Dubón 1-5, Cooper Hummel 0-1, Jesús Sánchez 2-4, Ramón Urías 1-2, Christian Walker 4-25
Red Sox vs. Gordon: Has not faced any Boston batters
Stat of the day: At 21 years and 80 days, Anthony became the youngest Red Sox player with a walkoff hit since Dalton Jones (20 years, 278 days) in September 1964.
Notes: Houston’s Jeremy Pena was activated from the 10-day injured list Friday. He started at shortstop and collected three of Houston’s seven hits Friday night. …Pena’s return will allow the Astros to move Carlos Correa from shortstop to third base. Correa started at third on Friday night but played shortstop after Pena left the game in the 10th. The Astros acquired Correa in a trade with Minnesota on Thursday. … Gordon will face the Red Sox for the first time in his career, and Buehler is 1-1 with a 3.00 ERA in three career starts against Houston.
Emma Healy can be reached at emma.healy@globe.com or on X @ByEmmaHealy.
