There was no ball-strike controversy to blame in Game 5 of the ALCS. The Houston Astros just steamrolled the Boston Red Sox, and now they will take a 3-2 series lead back to Houston with a chance at a third World Series appearance in five years.
Behind a stellar night from Framber Valdez, the Astros topped the Red Sox 9-1 in Game 5 to close out the Boston leg of the series.
Valdez's performance was the first time an Astros pitcher had even lasted three innings in the entire series, as the Red Sox have made it a habit of jumping all over Houston's starters in the early innings.