Being down 3-0 in the opener of a late-season doubleheader is a brutal spot, especially when your starter, Alec Gamboa, gives up three runs in just two innings. Tyrone Taylor got Chicago on the board fast with a first-inning double, then Miguel Amaya followed up with a two-run double in the second. Clay Holmes was cruising, and it felt like the Red Sox were in a hole before anyone even got comfortable.
Defense Kept the Ship From Sinking
That early deficit could have been a total disaster, but the defense absolutely stepped up. Caleb Durbin threw Matt Shaw out at the plate in the second, preventing the Cubs from piling on even more. Then Isiah Kiner-Falefa made a sick sliding grab in the third, and Andruw Monasterio came up with a diving catch in the fourth. These weren’t the glamorous plays that grab headlines, but they stopped 3-0 from turning into 5-0 or worse. Those plays mattered. They kept hope alive, and that’s crucial when you’re fighting back.
Anthony Sparks the Impossible Comeback
Roman Anthony finally started doing Roman Anthony things all afternoon. He went 3-for-3 with a walk, getting on base four times, and he had his fingerprints all over both comeback sequences. He kicked things off in the third, scoring on a Dansby Swanson throwing error to make it 3-1. That play was huge, just staying alive and keeping those at-bats meaningful. The score stayed put until Adley Rutschman stepped up in the fifth with two runners on. Against Caleb Thielbar, Rutschman ripped a two-run double that tied the game. That one swing completely changed the vibe, and frankly, there’s no comeback story without it. In the seventh, with Aaron Civale pitching for Chicago, Anthony tripled to right field. Then Connor Wong, who came in for Mickey Gasper, stepped up and delivered the go-ahead double. Just like that, it was Red Sox 4, Cubs 3. The Cubs were missing Willson Contreras, whose hand still hurt, and Ceddanne Rafaela also sat out Game 1, but you can’t discount the fight. A team down 3-0 absolutely refused to pack it in and went ahead and won the first game.
Game 2 is coming up next, and after a comeback like that, you know the energy will be through the roof. This team showed some serious guts, refusing to quit when it looked bleak. That’s the kind of mentality you build on.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Over the Monster.
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