Major League Baseball

MLB Playoffs Top Plays: Boston Red Sox dominate Houston Astros in ALCS Game 3

Updated Oct. 18, 2021 11:36 p.m. ET

Is there any slowing down the Boston Red Sox?

Heading into Game 3, the American League Championship Series was tied 1-1, and the Sox were back at Fenway with all of the momentum.

They had responded to their 5-4 loss to the Houston Astros in Game 1 by winning Game 2 in thrilling fashion 9-5 and making history in the process, becoming the first MLB team to hit two grand slams in one playoff game.

Well, on Monday, the Sox almost immediately added another grand slam to their series total, with a second-inning shot from Kyle Schwarber giving Boston a commanding lead in Game 3. From there, the Sox never looked back on their way to a 12-3 victory and 2-1 series lead.

Here are the top plays from Game 3:

Boston Red Sox 12, Houston Astros 3

Picking up where they left off

The Red Sox made the Astros pay with the bases loaded in Game 2, and in Game 3, they continued to capitalize with the bases jacked, scoring their first run on a Christian Vázquez RBI single in the bottom of the second.

They got a second run on a Jose Altuve error, and just like that, Boston had a 2-0 advantage.

That set the stage for Schwarber to hit the third grand slam of the series, powering the Red Sox to a 6-0 lead.

With that, the Sox became the first team in MLB history to hit three grand slams in one playoff series.

Pouring it on

The Red Sox didn't let up from there, adding three more runs in the third inning. A two-run home run from Christian Arroyo pushed Boston's lead to 9-0.

On the board

The Astros finally found some offense in the top of the fourth, when Kyle Tucker hit a three-run home run.

Extra insurance

In the bottom of the sixth, J.D. Martinez hit Boston's third home run of the game, knocking a two-run blast to give the Red Sox an 11-3 lead.

And that's not all!

Boston's offensive onslaught continued in the bottom of the eighth, when Rafael Devers got in on the home run action, making it 12-3 with a shot over the Green Monster.