While the Red Sox were celebrating down the hall, A.J. Hinch, the Astros’ manager, who led Houston to its first World Series title last year, seemed almost stunned by how good Boston’s lineup was.

“Their at-bats are really exceptional,” Hinch said. He added: “They have tremendous balance. They don’t concede any at-bats. They never got off our fastballs, and we couldn’t quite — they laid off tough breaking balls. They do it right. And that’s why it’s hard to get 27 outs against them.”

Hinch noted that coming out of spring training, it was clear that Boston was good. The same was true of the Astros, the Yankees and the Cleveland Indians. But Boston began the season 17-2 and played consistently well afterward, even as the questions mounted.

“The talent was there, but they had to go out and play and prove it,” Hinch said. “And then when people doubted them, it seemed like they got better. And they never stopped. They never stopped coming at you. They’re a relentless group.”

Most notable in the playoffs so far? That all of Boston’s blemishes — the bullpen, the infield, Chris Sale’s health, Craig Kimbrel’s jitters and Price’s difficulty winning in the postseason — are real but not debilitating.