HELLO, ALCS! Astros defeat Red Sox 5-4 to win ALDS series in Game 4

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) celebrates his home run with Carlos Correa, rear, and Evan Gattis, right during the eighth inning of Game 4. (Charles Krupa)

BOSTON, Massachusetts (KTRK) -- Justin Verlander outpitched Chris Sale in a relief role reversal of aces, and the Houston Astros advanced to their first AL Championship Series, rallying past the Boston Red Sox 5-4 Monday in Game 4 of their playoff matchup.

Houston Astros's Jose Altuve, right, congratulates Yuli Gurriel after he scored during the second inning in Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Houston Astros starting pitcher Charlie Morton delivers a pitch against the Boston Red Sox second inning of Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Boston Red Sox's Mitch Moreland, seated, is called out at home during the third inning in Game 4. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP

Houston Astros' Evan Gattis carries his bat to the dugout after striking out during the sixth inning of Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Houston Astros left fielder Marwin Gonzalez tosses his bat after striking out to end the seventh inning in Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Houston Astros third baseman Alex Bregman (2) celebrates his home run with Carlos Correa, rear, and Evan Gattis, right during the eighth inning of Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman (2) watches his home run in front of Boston Red Sox catcher Christian Vazquez during the eighth inning of Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Boston Red Sox's Andrew Benintendi, center, celebrates his two-run home run with Xander Bogaerts, left, during the fifth inning in Game 4.(AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP

Houston Astros relief pitcher Justin Verlander, left, and catcher Brian McCann talk during the fifth inning of Game 4. (AP Photo/Charles Krupa)AP

Houston Astros' Alex Bregman celebrates his home run off Boston Red Sox relief pitcher Chris Sale with Jose Altuve, right, during the eighth inning. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)AP

Houston will open the ALCS on Friday, either at Cleveland or at home against the New York Yankees. The Indians held a 2-1 edge over the Yankees going into Game 4 of the AL Division Series on Monday night.

With Verlander and Sale - the Game 1 starters - both pressed into relief, the Astros prevailed to win the ALDS 3-1.

VIDEO: Manager A.J. Hinch talks after Game 4 in Boston

Astros manager A.J. Hinch speaks at the podium

Alex Bregman homered off Sale to tie it in the eighth and Josh Reddick hit an RBI single off closer Craig Kimbrel later in the inning.

The Astros last reached the league championship series in 2005 as a National League, and were swept in the World Series by the White Sox.

RELATED: Go inside the Astros locker room after ALDS series win
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The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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