Boston’s Red Sox just swept the AL East-leading Rays, notching their 13th consecutive win in a truly wild run. This isn’t just a streak, folks. This is the longest winning streak for Boston since way back in 1948. Think about that: Hall of Famer and Red Sox legend Ted Williams was only 29 years old then and hadn’t even piled up half his career homers or hits yet. It’s been that long.
Boston’s Unstoppable Surge
Sonny Gray was an absolute warrior on the mound, going six innings and allowing just one run, even after walking four and giving up five hits. He just found ways to escape those self-inflicted jams, pushing his season record to an incredible 12-1 with a sparkling 2.48 ERA. The bullpen? They came in and absolutely shut down Tampa Bay, holding them scoreless the rest of the way. But let’s be real, the Sox lineup already gave them a nice cushion. They pounded Rays’ lefty starter Shane McClanahan for six runs, four of them earned, before Tampa’s relief crew could even try to lock things down. After an inside-the-park homer by right fielder Victor Mesa Jr. in the second, Boston’s bats came alive. Shortstop Andrew Monasterio tied it up with an RBI double in the bottom of the frame, then a passed ball in the third brought across what ended up being the game-winning run. Third baseman Caleb Durbin reached on a fielder’s choice to score another, and second baseman Romy Gonzalez grounded out to make it 4-1. Then first baseman Willson Contreras absolutely blasted his 22nd homer of the season, a 414-foot shot, pushing the score to 6-1 and effectively ending McClanahan’s day after five innings despite him throwing only 87 pitches.
Rays Falter While D-backs Pull Off Insane Comeback
While the Red Sox are on fire, the Rays are definitely feeling the heat, having now lost five in a row. Still, they’re holding onto a 1.5-game lead over the Yankees in the East, mostly because New York dropped two of three to the Dodgers over the weekend. What a division race, huh? Meanwhile, in another part of the league, the Cardinals thought they had it in the bag against the Diamondbacks. St. Louis was cruising, up 5-0 after a two-run single from first baseman Alec Burleson in the third, and then third baseman Blaze Jordan knocked in two more in the fifth to make it a commanding 7-0. Seven. Zip.
But baseball, man, baseball is wild. St. Louis would not score another run. The Diamondbacks somehow, impossibly, plated eight unanswered runs to win the game. It started with an RBI single from second baseman Ketel Marte in the sixth, followed by two bases-loaded walks from two different pitchers, starter Andre Pallante and reliever Ryne Stanek. Then, in the bottom of the seventh, shortstop Geraldo Perdomo hit a two-run, inside-the-park homer, pulling the D-backs within two. And who else but ex-Cardinal Nolan Arenado to deliver the gut punch? His lone hit of the day was a monster two-run, game-tying homer in the eighth. Arizona then escaped the top of the 10th without giving up a run thanks to a huge double play that erased a leadoff single.
What a night in baseball. The Red Sox are riding a historic wave, while the Diamondbacks proved that no lead is safe. Both stories remind us why we tune in every night.
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
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