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Archives for July 26, 2026

Streak Done; It’s All About Series Wins

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief, Digital Sports Desk

FENWAY – With the 15-game winning streak in the rearview mirror, and a flat, 6-0 no-show loss to Toronto on Saturday, today’s Sunday afternoon rubber game became the most important game of the 10-game homestand the Boston Red Sox have just concluded. Adding to the intrigue was the return of starting pitcher Ranger Suarez who was activated today after missing 15 games (two-starts) due to a strained groin.

The Red Sox performed well, as did Suarez. Yes, Boston took an impressive 6-1 victory to the airport as they depart the now-friendly confines of Fenway Park for a four-game set against the swingin’ and travelin’ A’s, then a three-game series against Los Angeles at famed Dodgers Stadium.

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Put it all together and it just might show how to measure this year, – measure a year?

In daytime, (20-23),

At nightime? (34-27)

In June (12-14),

And July (17-3).

36,795 people,

Four consecutive sell-outs to cheer.

Sam Adams? The waves? The Tartan Army so dear.

Kids running bases? Sweet Carolines? And, Tarps off. No fear.

Truth be told, after an incredible 15-game winning streak, the best way to measure this season is by measuring series wins, and the 6-1 Red Sox victory over the Blue Jays made it the sixth consecutive series won – the most for the Sox since June 3-26, 2022.

Boston swept five of those series (vs. NYY, at LAA, at CWS, at NYM and home vs. Tampa Bay).

Boston is 8-2 over their last 10 series, dating back to June 19, and 9-3 over the last 12 series, dating back to June 12.

The 17-3 record in July ties the best record through 20 games to begin ANY calendar month in franchise history (also August 1995, August 1949 and June 1901).

On the scoreboard during this now completed 10-game homestand, the Red Sox outscored their opponents 53-34.

Today, the Sox faithful witnessed a very impressive comeback by Suarez, going 4.0 innings, (64 pitches, 42 strikes). He allowed only four hits, walked none and struck-out six Blue Jay batters. It was the fifth time this season he pitched a scoreless outing and it was his first start since July 5 (missing two outings and benefitting from the MLB All-Star break).

These are all signs of progress for a team that was once 17-27 at Fenway Park, playing in a building so dull, it could make former Senator and Secretary of State John Kerry the most interesting person in the crowd. Now? Fenway is not only sold out, but it’s been alive, with a vibe of confidence and cheers of encouragement not jeers from frustration.

It makes a big difference.

There’s one other important fact to note: The Red Sox, while certainly turning their season into an intriguing chess game going forward, have accomplished nothing. Yes, they are now four games over the .500 mark (54-50), and yes, they are now 25-29 at home, but they head to Sacramento (the temp home for the A’s) with a winning percentage equal to the Arizona Diamondbacks, similar to the Chicago White Sox, and two games ahead of the Pittsburgh Pirates.

In the AL Wild Card race (far too early to do too much scoreboard watching), the Red Sox have made their way to the No. 2 Wild Card slot, a game and a half ahead of the Cleveland Guardians. The Minnesota Twins and the Houston Astros are only 1.5 games under those clubs, while Seattle and Baltimore are only two games back from Cleveland.

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If the Sox played in the National League, they’d be chasing the Chicago Cubs, Philadelphia Phillies and Diamondbacks for wild card positioning.

In other words, it’s July 26th and there’s a very long way to go.

A trade of injured SP Connelly Early for mediocre-hitting infielder Curtis Mead from the Washington Nationals came with a tariff, err, modicum of uncertainty. Mead is a .254 hitter with some power (17 HRs, 17 2Bs). His bat might take to the dimensions of Fenway Park. The return of injured pitching ace Garrett Crochet would be just what the team doctor would order, and the return of face-of-the-franchise power hitter, Roman Anthony, would be a major dose of rejuvenation to a batting order thus far pieced together by interim (should be hired for the duration) Manager Chad Tracy.

Another trade, maybe a major trade at the August 3 deadline (6:00pm EDT) would make a huge difference. Colorado heavy-hitting catcher Hunter Goodman is apparently on the market, but is not a candidate to entice the Red Sox and GM Craig Breslow to take a major plunge in terms of giving up much in prospects or current roster players.

August 3 is an off-day for the Red Sox. They’ll be flying back from Los Angles after the upcoming road trip, and will face the Chicago White Sox in a three game series to start the next Fenway Park homestand.

Winning the series against the A’s is realistic. Winning the series against the defending champion LA Dodgers is not.

But winning the series in a Sox vs Sox battle at Fenway will be the next major milestone on the Red Sox “Comeback From the Dead” rock n’ roll tour of 2026.

Get your tickets now. There are Tarps to be twirled, pitchers to return and series to be won.

Or lost.

PGA Tour: Koivun Takes 3M Open

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BLAINE (Minn) – (Wire Service Report) – It didn’t take long for rookie Jackson Koivun to prove that he’s comfortable on the PGA Tour.

Koivun shot 5-under-par 66 to stave off hard-charging Scottie Scheffler and win on the PGA Tour for the first time at the 3M Open on Sunday at Blaine, Minn. Koivun, 21, finished at 25-under 259 for a three-shot victory on Scheffler, who closed with a 63 at TPC Twin Cities.

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“Definitely had some nerves coming down on 18,” Koivun said. “All throughout the crowd, I kept hearing, ‘Scottie’s coming, Scottie’s coming.’ I just tried to tone that out and keep playing the golf I knew I could.”

Less than two months ago, Koivun was helping Auburn to its second NCAA championship in a three-year stretch. He demonstrated more poise while playing the final two rounds of his third tournament since turning pro without carding a bogey.

“I just love this game. I love golf, it’s everything I do,” Koivun said. “I have a tough time getting away from it. Like I said, it’s been love at first sight.”

Denny McCarthy (66), Brian Harman (65), Chandler Phillips (67) and Japan’s Hideki Matsuyama (64) tied for third place at 20 under.

World No. 1 Scheffler birdied three consecutive holes to begin the back nine as part of his bogey-free round. He birdied Nos. 16 and 18, leaving him trailing by two strokes.

Koivun then birdied No. 16, extending the margin to three strokes with two holes to play.

“Depending on how Jackson played, I knew I was going to need a really low number regardless,” Scheffler said. “I wanted to get something really low on the front nine and kind of put myself on the leaderboard. I didn’t quite have that.”

Scheffler, who was competing in the 3M Open for the first time, still hasn’t seen Koivun hit a shot.

“I’m looking forward to that,” Scheffler said.

Koivun, a three-time Player of the Year in the Southeastern Conference, surged into the lead across the final nine holes Saturday and then went right to work Sunday, with his approach shot on the first hole spinning back to within 2 feet of the cup for an easy birdie putt. A birdie on No. 4 pushed his lead to five strokes, with Scheffler among five golfers tied for second place at the time.

He ended up with birdies on the first two par-5 layouts Sunday – and didn’t need it on No. 18.

Jake Knapp shot an early 62 to rise quickly on the leaderboard and finish at 16 under, tying for 13th. He posted seven consecutive birdies as part of a 28 on the back nine, tying a tournament record set a day earlier by Koivun.

“On the back nine, just like drove it a little bit better and I wedged it really well,” Knapp said. “That was the main thing and that was kind of the main focus coming into these last few weeks.”

Defending champion Kurt Kitayama (68) finished tied for 24th at 13 under.

–Field Level Media

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | July 26

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

“Don’t Call Me Chief” – Perry White

BOSTON – Do you wonder if the “Tartan Army” checks their bagpipes at the curb or carries them on board, and if so, do they fit in the overhead compartments?

The Rise of the Tartan Army was well documented here in Boston during the recently concluded World Cup. While Spain took home the glorious cup, Boston was rewarded with something even more special; that being a connection with Scotland that just might last forever and a day.

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The sports fans of Boston – a passionate bunch – were not going to see Team USA here in the Commonwealth. Of course, they adopted a team to root for. Enter Scotland, sort of the Sandman of the Futbol types, coming out of the streets like Yankees’ reliever Mariano Rivera used to exit the bullpen, ready to annihilate and and all batters.

There’s a difference, though. Boston fans were not happy with the routine Rivera put forth for the hated Yanks, while Bostonians immediately fell in love with some 50,000 Scottish fans, with bagpipes leading the march straight to the local Sam Adams Brewery to drink all of the beer – and we do mean ALL of the beer.

The Tartan Army of Scots injected more than $1b – with a b – into the Greater Boston – Foxborough – Providence economy, but left much more in the tip jar. They departed with a vibe of the love of sports, the love of people, the love of Boston and they imparted true friendship that will last a lifetime or more.

The Scots visited Fenway Park on the off-nights of the soccer games and marched their way in with 5,000 fans following the bagpipes. For the bars and restaurants in the Fens, it was finding buckets of gold coins in the cash registers. It kept coming and coming and coming.

The Tartan Army also left something money can’t buy and the Boston Convention and Visitors Bureau has no way to measure. They left smiles and positive vibes – dotting local monuments with orange traffic cones to mark their place. The mantra, “No Boston, No Party,” became the rallying cry and it provided young men with confidence to go full Tarps Off in the right field grandstands. (The “Tarps Off” movement started with a small group of fans deciding to remove their shirts in the right-field stands and wave them around like rally towels. The swarm of shirtless spectators continued to grow until almost the entire section was filled with men with hats but no shirts. It’s a GROWING phenomenon, surely to make its way to a cold October evening at Fenway.

All of it together worked miracles – to the tune of 15 straight victories for the local baseball team, a teams mired in last place, and they had to dig-out after falling 11 games under the .500 mark. They’re risen from the dead and this week occupied a Wild Card berth in the American League ladder.

Before the streak, they ranked 27th in scoring (4.0 runs per game), 25th in home runs (0.9), 28th in RBI (3.8), 27th in walks (2.9), and 25th in total bases (12.8).

Since the streak began, they’re fourth in runs (5.9 per game), extra-base hits (3.5), and RBI (5.6). They’re also fifth in home runs (1.6 per game) and seventh in total bases (15.4).

Like the Scots, the Long Ball has been the friend of the Red Sox.

Come next April (2027), Boston Mayor Michele Wu already signed document will begin a formalized international partnership with the City of Glasgow, Scotland, to strengthen economic, cultural and institutional ties. Building on shared values and the collaboration during the 2026 FIFA World Cup, the two cities will consider opportunities for cooperation in innovation, education, sustainability and tourism.Orange traffic cones will be in demand.

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HERE NOW, THE NOTES: There are a few things in sports that never get old. For instance, when the San Diego Chicken used to dance backwards with one leg up, it was hysterical. But, then he’d go walking towards the basket and bump his beak into the basket stanchion and turn it inside out. It was Slapstick City, but he’d get the laughs every time he did it. … How about the Olympics? We’ve all seen the scene of any athlete from any country in the world totally losing it on the medal stand when they hear their country’s National Anthem as the flag is raised in the classy medal ceremonies. It’s the best. … Want another tear-jerker? How about the “on the court” surprise family reunion of a member of the military with his/her loved ones after a long deployment always puts a lump the size of a golf ball in my throat. It never fails. … The Red Panda performing is an act seen a million times, but it’s always great. She never fails (although a bad fall sidelined her for a while this year). … There’s another: It NEVER gets old when you hear the story of a minor league baseball player getting the call to join the “Big Leagues,” the “Show,” the “Majors.” It’s just a great story to see a guy rewarded for all the years of hard work; All the batting practice, all the doubleheaders in the park on hot summer days. Then, the time in the minors – Rookie ball, Single A, High A, Double AA, and, usually the final stop, Triple AAA. … The phone call came to Tommy “Tommy Tanks” White this week and he happened to be at his hometown on a break. Let him tell it: “I was on the golf cart just going to get some stuff for the boat,” White said. “It was just me driving the golf cart. Fran called me from Las Vegas and said, ‘You’re going up to the big leagues.’ It was, like, a ‘drop everything’ moment. I was at home, so I got to tell my parents in person. They broke down crying. It was really cool. … This is something I’ve dreamed of and talked about since I was a little kid.”

“Tommy Tanks” – an extra base hit machine for the A’s – has a new fan in Boston.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: Some might call it a “hockey assist.” Others, like Bill Bradley, United States Senator of New Jersey, Princeton man, and Basketball Hall of Famer plus two-time champion with the New York Knickerbockers, put it as “the pass that led to the pass that led to the basket.” Bradley had his share, dishing perimeter passes to teammates like Dave DeBusschere, Walt “Clyde” Frazier or two-guard Dick Barnett, never mind a cutting Willis Reed. Bradley made a living of it.

Well, Celtics team GM and head of Basketball Operations Brad Stevens might get credited with one of Bradley’s specialties. Stevens made the trade that led to deal that led to the Philadelphia 76ers signing coveted free agent Lebron James.

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James worked with the Sixers and Topps to make his “final NBA decision” of signing with Philadelphia utilizing a TOPPS trading card and social media post to break the news.

He’ll join former NBA MVP Joel Embiid (healthy or not), all-stars Tyrese Maxey and newly acquired Jaylen Brown (from the Celtics) and V.J. Edgecombe to create the best starting five in the league, assuming Embiid reports to training camp in condition and ready to go.

Truthfully, the Sixers could allow Embiid to work his way back to 100% throughout the Fall and report to play after the NBA All-Star break. As long as Embiid is ready to go and healthy for April-May-June, 2027, the 76ers are Eastern Conference title favorites, edging the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks.

Regardless, the Sixers are likely to play positionless basketball and giddy-up unless they need to pull up and go into half-court sets when Embiid makes his way to the paint. Add. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, too, as he agreed to a buyout with the Memphis Grizzlies and plans to sign a one-year, $3.9 million deal with the 76ers.

“This (was) my last decision. I’m not going for money. I’m not going for family. What am I really playing for at this point?” James wrote on his social media post. “I still want to sacrifice. I still want to work. I still want to grind. I still want to compete, to win and to have a chance at the feeling of winning another championship.

“I believe I can help make the Philadelphia 76ers a championship team and I am so excited to energize a new fan base and start this incredible journey one last time.”

You’ve got to wonder why Stevens traded Brown to an Atlantic division rival, never mind one who knocked the Celtics out of the 2026 NBA Playoffs. Certainly, the unintended circumstance was making Philly good enough to attract FA James.

Oddsmakers still have the reigning NBA champion New York Knicks as future favorite to win their divisional title. The ESPN odds read:

  1. New York +170
  2. Philly +200
  3. Boston +240
  4. Toronto +600

A MONTH OF FUN-DAYS: Since June 25, the Red Sox are 21-4, best since 2004. Sunday, they’ll have a chance to win their sixth consecutive series. That would be a first since June, 2022. The Sox won 16 of their last 18 games and goes into the final game of a ten-game home stand with a 7-2 record. Of course, that’s all a part of the team’s 15-game winning streak (July 3-22). … Boston closer Aroldis Chaapman earned his 391st save on Friday night, passing Dennis Eckersley for ninth on the MLB all-time saves list. Billy Wagner is eighth with 422 close-outs.

Sox Call In the Ranger

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox have won 16 of their last 18 games and will get two-time All-Star southpaw Ranger Suarez back from the injured list to face the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Sunday afternoon.

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Boston, which had a 15-game winning streak broken by the Baltimore Orioles on Wednesday, will try to win the three-game series against Toronto after being one-hit by All-Star right-hander Dylan Cease on Saturday in a 6-0 Blue Jays win.

Suarez (4-3, 3.15 ERA) has not pitched since he strained his groin July 5, the day he found out he was named to his second All-Star team.

The 30-year-old was scheduled to return last week, but his comeback was delayed because he was ill.

The Red Sox also were without left-hander Connelly Early the past few rotation turns but went 16-3 without Suarez and him.

Early, on the injured list since July 1 with elbow inflammation, was traded to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead on Saturday night.

Early is 7-5 with a 3.44 ERA in 17 games (all starts) covering 91 2/3 innings this season, while Mead is batting .254 with 17 homers and 48 RBIs in 87 games.

“If you scripted that out before any of this happened and said, ‘This is going to happen — Suarez’s going to go down; Early’s going to go down — you’d be like, ‘That’s going to be the end of that (streak),’ ” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told MLB.com on Saturday before the trade was made. “But we’ve had guys that have stepped up. (Payton) Tolle’s been great all year. Jake Bennett came in and did great.”

Activating Suarez to pitch Sunday will allow rookie lefty Tolle to pitch Monday when the Red Sox open a series in West Sacramento, Calif., against the Athletics.

“When we talked about it (the rotation) … it’s like, first of all, if we can get Ranger the days he needs, but also sliding him behind (Patrick Sandoval) and (Sonny) Gray, not disrupting him,” Tracy said. “You get the other two guys (Tolle and Bennett) a little bit extra break, which is good for them, too.”

Suarez is 57-40 with a 3.35 ERA in 204 games, including 136 starts. He is 2-0 with an 0.00 ERA in three appearances (two starts) against the Blue Jays in his career. Suarez has thrown 17 1/3 innings against Toronto and has allowed only one unearned run while striking out 17.

The Blue Jays will counter with Kevin Gausman (4-9, 4.51 ERA). They have lost seven straight games he has started, with the last win coming June 7 against the Orioles.

The right-hander has not recorded a win since beating the Pirates 6-2 on May 22. The 35-year-old is 116-122 with a 3.85 ERA in 382 career games (343 starts) and is 9-11 with a 4.25 ERA in 33 games against the Red Sox, including 28 starts.

The Red Sox are just glad they won’t see Cease for a while.

Andruw Monasterio managed the only hit for the Red Sox on Saturday, a double to lead off the sixth.

The All-Star Game starter, Cease was averaging 93 mph on his fastball early in the game, and struck out Wilyer Abreu with a 99 mph to end the ninth.

“It was a great pitch, no regrets,” Cease said of his pitch to Monasterio. “My body was a little cranky early, but it woke up as the game went on. At the end, you don’t want to let it go. I emptied the tank.”

Cease also acknowledged that Fenway Park is his favorite place to play. He is 2-0 with an 0.88 ERA there and has held hitters to a .194 batting average.

“When I play Nintendo 64, it is always here,” Cease said.

He isn’t the only Blue Jays player who loves Fenway.

George Springer, who hit a three-run homer to cap a five-run third inning Saturday, is a .320 hitter with 41 RBIs and 10 home runs in 50 career games in Boston.

–Field Level Media

 

Red Sox Trade Early

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – It won’t go down as the worst Boston trade of the summer of ’26, but it’s close. The Boston Red Sox are trading rookie left-hander and promising prospect Connelly Early to the Washington Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, according to multiple reports on Saturday night.

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The Red Sox reportedly are seeking help at shortstop ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline and were looking at Mead’s teammate, All-Star shortstop CJ Abrams. Boston’s Trevor Story, out since May 14, has played only 41 games because of a sports hernia.

Early, 24, hasn’t pitched since June 30, going on the injured list July 1 due to left elbow inflammation. The starting pitcher is expected to return in August.

Boston selected Early in the fifth round of the 2023 MLB Draft out of the University of Virginia.

Early is 7-5 this season with a 3.44 ERA, 34 walks and 93 strikeouts in 91 2/3 innings over 17 starts. He appeared in four games (all starts) last season and went 1-2 with a 2.33 ERA over 19 1/3 innings.

Mead, a 25-year-old native of Australia, is batting .254 with a .352 on-base percentage and .500 slugging percentage after going 0-for-3 with two walks and one run after playing third base in Washington’s 5-3 home win over the Arizona Diamondbacks on Saturday. He has 17 home runs and 48 RBIs in 87 games. Mead, who has played first, second and third base as well as designated hitter this season, is a career .244 hitter with 22 homers and 79 RBIs in 239 games for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-25), Chicago White Sox (2025) and Nationals (2026).

He signed as a free agent with the Philadelphia Phillies in 2018 and was traded to the Rays in November 2019 for left-hander Cristopher Sanchez, who was selected to his second All-Star Game this season.

–Field Level Media