Red Sox vs. Astros ALCS Game 5 live results & highlights

The Boston Red Sox are one win away from their fourth trip to the World Series in 15 years, trying to close out the defending champion Houston Astros on Thursday in Game 5 of the American League Championship Series at Minute Maid Park.

After dropping the first game at home, the Red Sox offense has come alive, scoring at least seven runs in each of the last three games. The big blows have come from Jackie Bradley Jr., who had a three-run double in Game 2, a grand slam in Game 3, and a two-run shot in Game 4.

Boston has a 3-1 lead in a best-of-7 series for the first time since the 1918 World Series against the Cubs.

ALCS Game 5 TV & streaming info

Teams: Red Sox (108-54) vs. Astros (103-59)
Series: Boston leads, 3-1
Location: Minute Maid Park, Houston
Time: 8:09 p.m. ET
TV: TBS
Online: TBS.com, fuboTV

The 23 runs for the Red Sox is more than the Astros allowed in any three-game stretch during the regular season. Houston allowed at least 20 runs in a three-game run just five times during 2018, and was the best in baseball all year at preventing runs. The Astros allowed just 3.3 runs per game, and in total allowed 112 fewer runs than the next-stingiest American League team, the Rays.

Trying to stop that offensive surge is Justin Verlander, who beat the Red Sox in Game 1 at Fenway Park. Since joining the Astros the veteran right-hander has a 2.44 ERA in eight postseason games, including seven starts, with 51 strikeouts and 14 walks in 48 innings.

In his career Verlander is 4-1 in five starts in elimination games with a 1.21 ERA and 41 strikeouts in 37⅓ innings.

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