HOUSTON -- Astros right-hander Lance McCullers Jr. had a new catcher on Thursday night at Minute Maid Park, and the duo didn't have much time to prepare for the best team in baseball together. With Tim Federowicz as his batterymate, McCullers kicked off a four-game series against the Boston Red Sox, and a hug and a handshake from manager AJ Hinch followed six innings later.
In his 12th start of the season, McCullers tossed six solid innings of two-run ball, steering the Astros to a 4-2 win over the Red Sox. The two runs he allowed came around to score in the third, when Xander Bogaerts shot a double over the head of 5-foot-6 left fielder Tony Kemp.