Boston Red Sox Put Up Offensive Explosion on Thursday, Do Something They Haven't Done in Seven Years

The Boston Red Sox pounded the Houston Astros 17-1 on Thursday afternoon to split a four-game series at MinuteMaid Park.

After the win, the Red Sox are now 68-60. At the time of this posting, they are 3.5 games back of both the Astros and the Seattle Mariners in the wild card race. The Astros fell to 72-57 and into a tie with Seattle for the 2nd/3rd wild card spot.

In the offensive onslaught, the Red Sox connected for 24 hits, the most they've gotten in a game in seven years, per ESPN Stats & Info:

The Red Sox defeated the Astros 17-1 on Thursday, rapping out 24 hits and going 10-for-22 with runners in scoring position. Boston hadn't tallied 24 hits in a game since August 15, 2015, when they had 26 hits in a 22-to-10 win against the Mariners.

The Red Sox defeated the Astros 17-1 on Thursday, rapping out 24 hits and going 10-for-22 with runners in scoring position.

Boston hadn't tallied 24 hits in a game since August 15, 2015, when they had 26 hits in a 22-to-10 win against the Mariners. pic.twitter.com/PQhdoa8y6x
— ESPN Stats & Info (@ESPNStatsInfo) August 24, 2023

Eight different Red Sox players had multi-hit games and the team got home runs from Alex Verdugo, Connor Wong and Wilyer Abreu, who hit the first home run of his career.

Justin Turner was the only starter to not get a multi-hit game for Boston, and he was lifted after just three plate appearances to rest his aching heel.

The Red Sox will start a critical series with the Los Angeles Dodgers on Friday night at Fenway Park.

First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m. ET as Lance Lynn goes for Los Angeles. The Red Sox have not named a starter yet, but figure to go with either Nick Pivetta or Kutter Crawford.

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