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BOSTON -- For a few seconds it looked like the inning was over. Then, a couple of minutes later, Jose Altuves grand slam broke the game open. Altuve hit his first slam after Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts made a mental gaffe on a play that would have ended an inning Sunday, carrying the Houston Astros to an 8-1 victory over the Red Sox. Leading 2-0, the Astros got a break when manager Bo Porter won a challenge and they scored four runs after Bogaerts mistake. The shortstop picked up Marwin Gonzalezs grounder, ran to second for what looked like a force and fired to first. The problem was he threw the ball about a step before he tagged the bag. After Joe Kelly walked the bases full, Altuve homered into the Green Monster seats. "That theres a big play," said Porter, who said he was first told by the umpires that the play wasnt reviewable. "You look at that stage of the game and what proceeded to happen after that, Altuve with the big grand slam, one could say that was the biggest play of the game." Red Sox manager John Farrell was ejected by first-base umpire Doug Eddings after Altuves slam when he came out to argue. "My initial explanation on the field was that it was a neighbourhood play," Farrell said. "My interpretation is that neighbourhood play should not be determined by a feed throw or not, a neighbourhood play is not a reviewable play." Crew chief Jim Joyce, speaking to a pool reporter from the AP, said because he had never seen the play before that the crew decided to ask the replay centre for help. "Actually, we have not have had that play per say where the shortstop or the second baseman go right to the bag on their own," he said. "So, just to make everything clear, I explained to Bo that I was going to ask New York, the replay centre, if it was in fact reviewable because a neighbourhood play is not. New York came back to me and said, Yes, that play is reviewable and I came back to them and said, OK, Houston is challenging that play and that was the outcome." Altuve, who leads the majors in hits, went 4 for 5, raising his hit total to 173 and majors best average to .339 as the Astros completed a split of the four-game series. Dexter Fowler and Jon Singleton added solo homers for Houston, which earned its 52nd win to surpass last years total. Daniel Nava had an RBI double for Boston. Collin McHugh (6-9) gave up one run on seven hits in six innings for Houston. Kelly (0-1) was tagged for seven runs on seven hits, walking six over four innings in his Fenway Park debut with the Red Sox. He was acquired at the non-waiver trade deadline along with first baseman/outfielder Allen Craig for right-hander John Lackey. Fowlers homer in the third made it 7-0. WHAT A DAY Altuve became the first Astros player to collect four hits and a slam in the same game since Jeff Bagwell did it on April 9, 2004 at Milwaukee. He also matched his career high with the hits for the seventh time, last came on June 27 against Detroit. HOMER HAPPY The Astros entered the day second in the majors with 50 homers since July 1. They have 16 games this season with three or more homers and have gone 14-2. TRAINERS ROOM Astros 1B Jesus Guzman, on the DL since August 2 with back spasms and on a rehab assignment with Triple-A Oklahoma City, is eligible to come off. Red Sox 2B Dustin Pedroia was out sick and it was his 31st birthday. He had three homers in seven previous games on his birthday. UP NEXT The Astros are off Monday before opening a three-game series at Yankee Stadium Tuesday when LHP Brett Oberholtzer (4-8, 3.87 ERA) is scheduled to face New Yorks lefty Chris Capuano (1-3, 4.13). RHP Brandon Workman (1-6, 4.45 ERA) is slated to go for Boston Monday, facing C. J. Wilson (9-8, 4.71 ERA) when the Red Sox open a three-game series against the Los Angeles Angels. CELEBRITY SIGHTING Actor Matthew McConaughey watched the game from the second row down the left-field line just past the Astros dugout. He appeared to go fairly unnoticed until he left in the top of the ninth and many fans took pictures and shook hands as he was walking out. Cheap Chargers Jerseys . JOHNS, N. Lance Alworth Jersey . Hes even holding a bat on one of his 2014 baseball cards. So far, hes playing like his picture. http://www.cheapchargersjerseysauthentic...p-rivers-jersey. Jeff Carter had two goals and an assist as the Kings stretched their streak to seven wins in a row with a 4-2 victory over the Edmonton Oilers on Sunday. Jerry Tillery Jersey . -- Among the 31 players at the Montreal Canadiens rookie camp, none feels closer to cracking the NHL roster than right winger Aaron Palushaj. Easton Stick Jersey .J. Hardy to avoid a three-game sweep after blowing a big early lead. Odour had a leadoff single in the seventh and scored the tiebreaking run with the help of two errors by Hardy as the Rangers went on to beat the Orioles 8-6 on Thursday night.SANTA CLARA, Calif. - Aldon Smith might not have the intimidating and impressive sack numbers of past seasons in his abbreviated year, yet he judges his play by more than just flattening opposing quarterbacks.Smith believes he has done well applying pressure since returning from a nine-game suspension that has made it tough for him to gain much momentum on an ever-changing, beat-up 49ers defence.Ive been making plays, havent been getting sacks but getting pressure, Smith said. I feel good. Still making plays, still making it hard for the quarterback to throw and creating havoc in the backfield.Defensive co-ordinator Vic Fangio, who called Smith rusty when he returned last month, has spoken of Smiths inconsistencies on the pass rush at times. Pressuring the quarterback has regularly been a problem, and the 49ers (7-7) will have to contend with San Diegos Philip Rivers on Saturday night.Smith has 12 tackles and two sacks in five games, four starts.Theres a lot more to the job than just sacks. I mean, setting an edge, drops into coverage, physical against the run in the tackles, coach Jim Harbaugh said Thursday. I think hes done a very good job and (it has) been good for everybody to have him back out there.Finishing with a winning season, not chasing a Super Bowl ring as so many of the 49ers planned, is what the season has come to with two games left.It is different, this is my first year not being in the playoffs after having an extra couple games, Smith said. So, its different, but take advantage of this time and when its time to start, be ready.Smith missed the first nine games this season for violations of the NFLs substance-abuse and personal-conduct policies. That came after a five-game absence last year to undergo treatment following his September 2013 DUI arrest. The 25-year-old Smith was also arrested April 13 at Los Angeles International Airport. Police said Smith was randomly selected for a secondary screening and became unco-operative with the process, telling a TSA agent that he had a bomb. No charges were filed.He hopes to finally put all of that behind him. Away from the field, Smith said he believes hess now on the right track.dddddddddddd feel like Ive done what I needed to do, Smith said.The 49ers picked up Smiths option for 2015, though they will certainly be no-nonsense when it comes to his behaviour — or anybody elses for that matter — going forward.We talk to our players often about respect, accountability, character, what that means, general manager Trent Baalke said Wednesday. Were a big part of this community, and we expect a lot from our players. We have high expectations. And, for the most part, they live up to those expectations. In certain instances, they dont. And when they dont, you try to deal with it and help them the best you can. Sometimes, we have been judged to maybe give them too much leeway. I think thats a little bit harsh, but at the same time I understand that because I understand what the logo means, the shield means, both at the NFL level and the San Francisco 49ers.Smith, for one, hopes to be playing alongside fearsome defensive lineman Justin Smith for another year. Justin Smith hasnt said whether he will return for a 15th NFL season in 2015.I just hope we can end it on a strong note. Its good to play with him and if hes here next year, thats good, Aldon Smith said. If hes not, then Im sure hell be happy retired.Fangio has joked about flying to Missouri to talk Justin Smith into another year.If I was the D-coordinator, I would, too. ... If I was Vic Fangio, Id do the same thing, safety Antoine Bethea said. Thats his decision with his family. Obviously whatever he decides, helluva career, lot of respect for him as a player, as a man.Aldon and Justin Smith are two players opponents must consider on every snap, even with all the other mixing and matching through injuries on the defence.I still think the two Smiths, those guys are awesome players, Rivers said.Notes: Harbaugh expects RB Frank Gore to play Saturday after he has responded well following a concussion last week. ... Tony Jerod-Eddie is slated to start in place of DL Ray McDonald, who was released Wednesday amid a sexual assault investigation.___Online:AP NFL websites: www.pro32.ap.org and www.twitter.com/AP_NFL [url=http://www.a