Lucas Giolito only had one blemish in his start on Sunday, giving up just three hits in eight innings to help the Red Sox sweep the Astros.

For the past few years, facing the Los Angeles Dodgers and Houston Astros early in the second half of the season has been the beginning of the end of the Red Sox’s playoff hopes. The Red Sox

After a rocky start coming out of the All-Star break, the Red Sox are suddenly streaking again, winners of four straight and six of their last seven. Boston enters Sunday in second place in the AL East, having passed the Yankees both for that spot and for the first wild card position in the American League.