The Boston Red Sox extended their winning streak to 14 games on Monday night, defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 at Fenway Park. This victory places them one win away from tying the longest winning streak in franchise history, set in 1946.
The decisive moment came in the eighth inning when Caleb Durbin hit a two-out home run, giving Boston a 6-5 lead. In the ninth inning, Aroldis Chapman, despite walking a batter, secured two strikeouts. With runners on second and third, Tyler O’Neill hit a line drive towards left field, but shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng made a leaping catch to end the game.
Recent Performance and Turnaround
This 14-game streak is the longest in Major League Baseball this season. Monday’s win was also the Red Sox‘s ninth consecutive victory against AL East opponents, marking their longest such streak since 2016. The comeback against the Orioles was their sixth in July, tying them for the most in the month.
During the streak, the Red Sox pitching staff has maintained a 1.98 ERA, including three shutouts. The team’s lineup has been hitting .255/.341/.461 with 22 home runs, averaging 5.9 runs per game. Prior to this run, they had averaged 4.0 runs per game, with 73 home runs in 85 games.
Before this impressive run, the Red Sox were struggling, with a 32-46 record on June 24, placing them 14 games under .500 and holding the worst record in the American League. Manager Alex Cora was replaced by Triple-A skipper Chad Tracy in late April. Key players like Garrett Crochet and Roman Anthony were injured, and the team faced criticism from media and fans.
The team’s fortunes began to change after a delayed flight out of Colorado, which led to a later report time for the team for their June 25 game against the New York Yankees. They went on to sweep the Yankees in a four-game series, starting their current 19-2 stretch.
Key Contributors and Playoff Implications
A significant factor in Boston‘s improved performance has been the starting rotation, which boasts a 2.66 ERA during the 19-2 stretch. This has been achieved despite injuries to pitchers like Connelly Early and Ranger Suarez. Sonny Gray has been a standout, with a 3-0 record and a 1.07 ERA in four starts.
Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett, acquired from the Washington Nationals, has also made a notable impact. In nine starts, he holds a 5-3 record with a 2.35 ERA, including a 4-0 record with a 1.00 ERA during the 19-2 stretch. Bennett, a 25-year-old, relies on an effective changeup and ability to induce ground balls.
Caleb Durbin, who was hitting under .200 for two months earlier in the season, has improved significantly, batting .330 in his past 28 games with seven home runs and a .986 OPS. He has made adjustments to his stance, and his WAR (Wins Above Replacement) is now 2.3.
The Red Sox‘s playoff odds, according to FanGraphs, have increased from 9.4% on June 24 to 63.9% after Monday’s win. They have moved from 15½ games behind the then-division-leading Yankees to 6½ games behind the current leaders, the Tampa Bay Rays. This turnaround has shifted their approach to the trade deadline, from potentially trading players to looking to add to their roster. The team will aim to tie the franchise record for consecutive wins on Tuesday night against the Orioles.
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Source: tsn.ca
