BOSTON-Gerrit Cole struggled at the beginning of his second playoff start with the Houston Astros.
By the time he recovered, it was too late. Boston was well on its way to a big win.
Cole's electric fastball was lined all over Fenway Park and he also committed a costly error in his first career appearance in the AL Championship Series, losing 7-5 to the Red Sox in Game 2 on Sunday.
One night after Justin Verlander pitched Houston to a 7-2 victory in the series opener, Cole was unable to duplicate the success of his fellow hard-throwing right-hander. The 28-year-old Cole allowed a season-high five runs and six hits - all of them on fastballs - in six innings.
Game 3 is Tuesday in Houston.
Cole went 15-5 with a 2.88 ERA in his first season with Houston after he was acquired in a trade with Pittsburgh, helping the World Series champion Astros return to the playoffs with a second straight AL West title.
He was terrific in the AL Division Series against Cleveland, striking out 12 while pitching seven innings of one-run ball in a 3-1 victory in Game 2. He joined Hall of Famer Tom Seaver as the only players to strike out at least 12 without walking a batter in the postseason.
He had a completely different performance against the high-scoring Red Sox.
Looking amped and jittery, Cole allowed his first run on his sixth pitch of the game. Mookie Betts drove his 3-1 pitch off the wall in center, and Andrew Benintendi followed with an RBI single.
After J.D. Martinez lined to second, Cole picked up Xander Bogaerts' bouncer in front of the mound and threw wildly to first for an error. The miscue helped set up Rafael Devers' RBI single.
Houston tried to pick up Cole with two runs in the second and third, but he was unable to hold onto the 4-2 lead.
Jackie Bradley Jr. put Boston ahead to stay with a three-run double off the Green Monster with two out in the third. Cole walked Devers on four pitches and struck out Ian Kinsler swinging before Bradley's big blow.
After Boston took its 5-4 lead, Cole struck out Christian Vazquez to end the inning and retired his next nine batters before he was lifted from just his third career start at Fenway.
Cole was 2-2 with a 3.13 ERA in four career playoff starts coming into the night.
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Astros-Red Sox Runs
Red Sox first. Mookie Betts doubles to deep center field. Andrew Benintendi singles to right center field. Mookie Betts scores. J.D. Martinez lines out to shallow center field to Jose Altuve. Xander Bogaerts reaches on error to shallow infield, advances to 2nd. Andrew Benintendi to third. Throwing error by Gerrit Cole. Steve Pearce walks. Rafael Devers singles to shallow left field. Steve Pearce to second. Xander Bogaerts to third. Andrew Benintendi scores. Ian Kinsler strikes out swinging. Jackie Bradley Jr. grounds out to shallow right field, Jose Altuve to Yuli Gurriel.
2 runs, 3 hits, 1 error, 3 left on. Red Sox 2, Astros 0.
Astros second. Marwin Gonzalez grounds out to second base, Ian Kinsler to Steve Pearce. Carlos Correa singles to shortstop. Martin Maldonado doubles to shallow left field. Carlos Correa to third. Josh Reddick pops out to right center field to Ian Kinsler. George Springer doubles to shallow right field. Martin Maldonado scores. Carlos Correa scores. Jose Altuve strikes out swinging.
2 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Astros 2, Red Sox 2.
Astros third. Alex Bregman pops out to Christian Vazquez. Yuli Gurriel singles to center field. Tyler White flies out to deep right center field to Mookie Betts. Marwin Gonzalez homers to center field. Yuli Gurriel scores. Carlos Correa flies out to deep left field to Andrew Benintendi.
2 runs, 2 hits, 0 errors, 0 left on. Astros 4, Red Sox 2.
Red Sox third. J.D. Martinez strikes out swinging. Xander Bogaerts singles to shallow center field. Steve Pearce doubles to deep left center field. Xander Bogaerts to third. Rafael Devers walks. Ian Kinsler strikes out swinging. Jackie Bradley Jr. doubles to deep left field. Rafael Devers scores. Steve Pearce scores. Xander Bogaerts scores. Christian Vazquez strikes out swinging.
3 runs, 3 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Red Sox 5, Astros 4.
Red Sox seventh. Mookie Betts walks. On Lance McCullers's wild pitch, Mookie Betts to second. Andrew Benintendi strikes out swinging. Mookie Betts to second. On Martin Maldonado's passed ball, Mookie Betts to third. J.D. Martinez strikes out on a foul tip. On Martin Maldonado's passed ball, Mookie Betts scores. Xander Bogaerts walks. Steve Pearce grounds out to shortstop, Carlos Correa to Yuli Gurriel.
1 run, 0 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Red Sox 6, Astros 4.
Red Sox eighth. Rafael Devers singles to shallow center field. Ian Kinsler strikes out swinging. Jackie Bradley Jr. strikes out swinging. Mitch Moreland pinch-hitting for Christian Vazquez. Mitch Moreland singles to shallow right field. Rafael Devers to second. Sandy Leon pinch-running for Mitch Moreland. Mookie Betts doubles to right center field. Sandy Leon to third. Rafael Devers scores. Andrew Benintendi flies out to deep left center field to George Springer.
1 run, 3 hits, 0 errors, 2 left on. Red Sox 7, Astros 4.
Astros ninth. Evan Gattis pinch-hitting for Martin Maldonado. Evan Gattis pops out to second base to Ian Kinsler. Josh Reddick strikes out swinging. George Springer doubles to shallow left field. On Craig Kimbrel's wild pitch, George Springer to third. Jose Altuve singles to deep left field. George Springer scores. Alex Bregman flies out to deep left field to Andrew Benintendi.
1 run, 2 hits, 0 errors, 1 left on. Red Sox 7, Astros 5.