Red Sox beat Astros 12-8, avoid sweep as Martinez homers

Royals beat slumping Astros 6-5

By DOUG ALDEN

BOSTON (AP) — J.D. Martinez hit his 13th homer, Christian Arroyo had a three-run drive and the Boston Red Sox took advantage of a pair of dropped balls in a five-run sixth inning to beat the Houston Astros 12-8, avoiding a three-game sweep. Right fielder Kyle Tucker dropped Martinez’s sacrifice fly that tied the score at 8 for an error that allowed the batter to reach and shortstop Carlos Correa let Rafael Devers’ bases-loaded pop to short center to glance off his glove, but got the out because an infield fly was called. Yuli Gurriel and José Altuve homered for the Astros,

unearned