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Red Sox hit pair of grand slams in first 2 innings of dominant ALCS Game 2 win over Astros

J.D. Martinez of the Boston Red Sox
The Red Sox are now the first team in postseason history with multiple grand slams in a single game. (Bob Levey/Getty Images)

The Boston Red Sox wasted no time avenging their Game 1 loss in the American League Championship Series on Saturday afternoon — and they made history in the process.

The Red Sox hit two grand slams in the first two innings off of two different Houston Astros pitchers en route to their 9-5 win at Minute Maid Park. Boston is now the first team in MLB postseason history to have multiple grand slams in a single game.

J.D. Martinez got things going first for the Red Sox in the first. He hit a deep shot off of Houston starter Luis Garcia over the right field wall to put Boston up 4-0 almost instantly — thanks to a double from Kyle Schwarber and a pair of walks that loaded up the bases.

Rafael Devers followed suit in the second inning off of pitcher Jake Odorizzi, who replaced Garcia due to right knee discomfort. Devers hit a nearly identical shot as Martinez out to right field, which gave Boston a huge 8-0 lead.

By then, it was already essentially over. According to ESPN’s Marly Rivera, the Astros have ever rallied back from a deficit that big or bigger just once in team history.

Kike Hernandez hit a home run in the fourth inning to push Boston’s lead to nine, which marked his fifth home run in five games — something no Red Sox player has ever done in the postseason before.

Houston did get on the board finally in the bottom of that inning after Kyle Tucker hit an RBI double and then Yuli Gurriel hit Tucker and Alex Correa in with a single.

Gurriel hit a solo homer in the bottom of the ninth, as did Jason Castro. But by then it was far too late. The Red Sox cruised through the final five innings of the game to claim the four run win.

The series is now tied 1-1 after Houston’s win to kick off the ALCS on Friday night. Game 3 of the series is set for Monday night at Fenway Park in Boston.