The Boston Red Sox were staring down a paltry one hit through five innings against the Baltimore Orioles on Thursday, but if you thought that was going to stop them from a comeback, you haven’t been paying attention to this squad. Boston, just like they’ve done all week, took their sweet time to get rolling, entering the seventh inning trailing, then immediately digging themselves a deeper hole with two quick outs. But then? Double. Single. Tie Game. Just one inning later, they snagged the lead again, once more with two outs: Single. Fielder’s Choice. Strikeout. Home Run. It wasn’t pretty, but this team keeps scratching and clawing, scoring 14 runs in the seventh, eighth, and ninth innings since Sunday. That grind paid off with a huge 6-5 victory at Camden Yards.
Rutschman Delivers the Ultimate Stinger
If there was ever a moment for Adley Rutschman to remind everyone he’s the best two-way catcher in the game, this was it. In his very first game playing against the team that drafted him No. 1 overall in 2019, Rutschman absolutely belted two home runs. Talk about a subplot! The Red Sox offense literally had zero hits outside of his two dingers until the seventh inning, proving just how crucial his solo performance was. And when the rest of the club finally clicked into gear, who was on base to score the game-winning run? Rutschman. ESPN Insights even dropped the stat that he’s only the fourth former top pick to homer in his first plate appearance against his original team, and the first since Kansas City Royals first baseman Jeff King did it way back in 1997. Legendary stuff right there.
The Rest of the Crew Scratches and Claws for the W
While Rutschman put on a show, the rest of the squad didn’t just sit back. Nick Sogard, for example, dropped an “OH. HELL. YEAH.” moment. How many home runs did Sogard have in his first 91 games? Zero. How many has he hammered in his last 15? Four! His two-run dinger was absolutely massive for grabbing that lead. Pitcher Jake Bennett, a fresh breath of air for a rotation that’s been struggling, delivered a quality start, allowing three runs through six innings. It’s not stellar, sure, but it was enough for the win, and in September, that’s all that matters. And let’s not forget Roman Anthony, who blasted a homer in the top of the ninth. If he doesn’t hit that, we’re heading to extras, no doubt about it.
It’s clear this Red Sox team has a flair for the dramatic, and Rutschman’s homecoming was pure Hollywood. He didn’t just smash two homers, he received two standing ovations from the Baltimore crowd. Carlos Narvaez, one of the players he was traded for, even helped set up the first ovation, taking a stroll in front of home plate to let the cheers rain down. That’s real class, from both the player and the fans. This kind of grit and late-game heroics builds serious momentum. They’ll be looking to carry this energy forward from their 6-5 victory.
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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