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Can the Red Sox Take the Series v. A’s

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WEST SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – When the Boston Red Sox were struggling and sitting 11 games below .500 on July 1, Sonny Gray appeared to be a for-sure departure ahead of Monday’s trade deadline.

But Boston has soared back into contention with 19 victories in 22 games. The right-handed Gray has been a season-long standout entering tonight’s start in the finale of a four-game series against the Athletics in California’s Capitol city.

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Suddenly, chatter is increasing that the Red Sox might be interested in working out an extension with the 36-year-old Gray (12-2, 2.78 ERA). This is his first season with Boston but he is finishing a three-year, $75 million deal.

Regardless, Gray will be looking to have a bounce-back start on Thursday. After winning 10 straight decisions, he allowed a season high-tying five runs on a season-worst 10 hits in five innings while losing 6-0 to the visiting Toronto Blue Jays last Saturday.

Gray had allowed just four runs in 32 1/3 innings for a 1.11 ERA over his previous five starts before the unconventional poor outing.

“I’m not happy about it,” Gray said afterward. “But sometimes, that’s part of it. I’ll be OK. … Games like this happen.”

Gray is 2-2 with a 4.58 ERA in seven career starts against the Athletics, the team with which he began his career from 2013-17.

The Red Sox have scored just 11 runs in the series but have won two of the first three games.

Andruw Monasterio was the hero on Wednesday as he smacked a two-run homer in the top of the 10th inning to lead Boston to a 4-2 victory. Monasterio had three hits.

“I just tried to get a good pitch,” Monasterio said of the winning blast against Jose Suarez. “It was a good pitch, 2-0, and I tried to get it in front and I hit a homer.”

Jahmai Jones also homered and Caleb Durbin had three hits for the Red Sox, who have won 11 of their past 12 road games. Nick Sogard had two hits and an RBI and Ceddanne Rafaela also had two hits for Boston.

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Athletics All-Star slugger Nick Kurtz (left forearm) is unlikely to be available for the finale and will undergo an MRI exam on Thursday. X-rays performed Wednesday were “unclear,” according to manager Mark Kotsay.

“We’re going to have an MRI done in the morning, so we’ll have a better idea of what exactly is going on,” Kotsay told reporters. “The X-rays were kind of unclear right now. So we’re hoping for the best”

Kurtz sustained a contusion when hit by left-hander Patrick Sandoval’s pitch in the first inning. Kurtz stayed in to run the bases but left after the inning.

Kurtz was playing in just his fifth game after serving a stint on the 10-day injured list due to a right thumb capsule sprain earlier this month. He was forced out of the All-Star Game due to the injury.

Jonah Heim homered among three hits and Lawrence Butler went deep and doubled for the Athletics, who have lost 25 of their last 32 contests.

Right-hander Mason Barnett (1-1, 4.74) will take the ball first for the Athletics in a contest that will include multiple relievers.

Barnett has made 14 relief appearances this season. His longest effort was a four-inning scoreless stint against the Houston Astros on June 5.

Barnett, 25, was the second pitcher used in last Saturday’s 2-0 setback against the Minnesota Twins. He took the loss and gave up two runs and four hits over 3 1/3 innings.

Barnett started twice against the Red Sox last season and had a 5.87 ERA in two no-decisions. Jarren Duran is 3-for-5 with a double off Barnett.

–Field Level Media

Sox Stall In Sacramento

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WEST SACRAMENTO – The Boston Red Sox’s bats have cooled despite the team playing in one of the most hitter-friendly ballparks in the majors the past two nights.

Boston will attempt to restart its offense on Wednesday night when it faces the Athletics in the third contest of a four-game set at Sutter Health Park in the Capitol city of California.

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The Red Sox scored five or more runs in eight of their first 10 games following the All-Star break. But they have just seven runs while splitting the first two games with the A’s. All of Boston’s runs in Monday’s 4-2 victory came courtesy of Ceddanne Rafaela’s grand slam that was nearly grabbed at the wall. In Tuesday’s 4-3 setback, Connor Wong’s two-run homer with two outs in the ninth brought the Red Sox within one run before Anthony Seigler flew out to deep center to end it.

Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the Athletics deserve credit.

“They are pitching pretty good, I will tell you that,” he said. “… It took a series of really good at-bats in the eighth and ninth off the bullpen to get close there. It was a great finish. Seigler came up just short. You have to tip your hats sometimes.”

Tuesday’s loss was only the third in 21 games for the Red Sox. It also snapped a 10-game road winning streak. Boston’s 15-game winning streak was broken last Wednesday in a 5-1 loss against the Baltimore Orioles.

The Athletics won for just the seventh time in their past 31 games. Journeyman Brian Serven hit a two-run homer in his third big league game of the season. It was his first blast since 2022.

Serven is in the majors because of the loss of All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers (right knee), who underwent surgery to repair meniscus damage Tuesday but wasn’t ruled out for the season.

“It’s really exciting. It had been a while since I’d hit one in the majors,” Serven said. “What happened to Shea is awful. I’m just trying to do my part however I can.”

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said he isn’t sure whether Langeliers (23 homers) can make it back this season.

“It’s very unlikely, but I don’t put anything past Shea with the way he handles himself and how he’s going to attack his rehab,” Kotsay said. “A lot of it will depend on his progress, and if it’s a benefit for him to come back and (be the designated hitter).”

Boston placed infielder Curtis Mead (fractured left wrist) on the 10-day injured list prior to Tuesday’s game. He’ll learn Wednesday whether he needs surgery.

Mead was hit on the wrist with a pitch Monday while playing in his first game with the Red Sox after being acquired from the Washington Nationals.

“I came here to play and be with the group down the stretch,” Mead said. “So yeah, it’s definitely disappointing. But I’m hopeful that I can be back soon.”

Left-hander Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.21 ERA) will start for Boston on Wednesday night. It will be his fourth start since returning from Tommy John surgery.

Sandoval worked 4 2/3 innings of five-hit scoreless ball against the Toronto Blue Jays on Friday. He exited after 84 pitches, and the Red Sox won 6-4.

Sandoval, 29, has made more starts (11) vs. the Athletics than against any other team due to formerly being with the Los Angeles Angels, another American League West team. He is 4-4 with a 2.56 ERA vs. the A’s.

Left-hander Jacob Lopez (5-4, 6.12 ERA) will take the mound for the Athletics on Wednesday. Lopez, 28, beat the Minnesota Twins 2-0 last Friday when he gave up one hit in five scoreless innings.

–Field Level Media

It’s On to The Athletics

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SACRAMENTO – (Wire Service Report) – The Athletics’ season has been in a free fall in recent weeks and there is likely no recovering from the latest blow.

The Athletics could learn Monday that All-Star catcher Shea Langeliers requires season-ending knee surgery before they later take the field against the Boston Red Sox at the A’s temporary home in West Sacramento, California. Langeliers reportedly sustained a torn meniscus in his right knee during Friday’s game against the Minnesota Twins and was placed on the 10-day injured list Sunday.

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“We’re looking at the situation and making sure that he gets the best advice, the best care and, hopefully, the quickest recovery,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said after Sunday’s 11-8 road loss to the Twins.

Langeliers started for the American League in the recent All-Star Game and leads AL catchers in homers (23) and hits (99). This is the fourth straight season in which he has smacked more than 20 homers.

His loss comes at a time in which the A’s have lost 23 of their past 29 games. The Athletics were at .500 on June 19 but now sit 17 games below the mark entering the four-game set against the lava-hot Red Sox.

Boston has won 17 of its last 19 games after Sunday’s 6-1 victory over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays.

The once-floundering team is now in the thick of the AL wild-card chase. The Red Sox are in second place in a race in which only one team below them — the third-place Cleveland Guardians — are above .500.

Jarren Duran helped fuel Sunday’s victory with three singles, two RBIs and one steal.

“I think we’re just settling into ourselves,” Duran told reporters. “Early on, we were still trying to find our identity. I feel like we’re just now coming into what we knew we could be. It’s showing and the boys have bought in since Day One.

“It’s just  baseball and we were going through that grind and we’re starting to roll and it’s awesome to see.”

Jahmai Jones contributed a pinch-hit, two-run double as Boston scored at least five runs for the eighth time during an 8-2 homestand.

“We had some really good performances across the board,” Jones said. “I felt like it was a really good team day.”

Boston sends left-hander Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.31 ERA) to the mound in the opener.

Tolle, 23, received a no-decision against the Baltimore Orioles on July 20 when he gave up four runs and eight hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-5 A’s win.

Tolle went 0-0 with a 3.60 ERA in two appearances (one start) against the A’s last season.

He served up a homer to Nick Kurtz, who just returned to the A’s lineup on Saturday after a right thumb injury.

On Sunday, in his second game, All-Star first baseman Kurtz drilled a three-run homer against the Twins. He had been in a 0-for-25 funk before the blast, which was his 21st of the season.

Right-hander Jack Perkins (2-5, 6.75) will start for the Athletics for the eighth time this season.

He took a no-decision against the host Arizona Diamondbacks last Tuesday when he gave up three runs and five hits over five innings.

In his previous two turns, Perkins gave up a combined 10 runs and nine hits — including four homers — in just 6 2/3 innings. He lost both outings.

Perkins, 26, has never faced the Red Sox.

–Field Level Media

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.

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

Red Sox: The Streak is None

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Dylan Cease threw a one-hitter and George Springer hit a three-run home run as the visiting Toronto Blue Jays beat the Boston Red Sox 6-0 Saturday. Cease (7-5), who took a no-hitter into the ninth against the San Francisco Giants on July 8, only allowed four Red Sox hitters to reach base.

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The teams will play the rubber match of the series on Sunday. Boston is 11-2 in its last 13 games against the American League East and has won 16 of its last 18.

Cease was perfect until walking Caleb Durbin with two outs in the fifth and didn’t allow a hit through five innings. The complete game was the first for Toronto this season and the 12th in the majors. Seven of the complete games have been shutouts.

It was Cease’s fourth career complete game and his fourth career shutout. The right-hander walked three and struck out 12 on a career-high 120 pitches.

Boston starter Sonny Gray (12-2) gave up five runs on 10 hits in five innings. The right-hander didn’t walk anyone and struck out three on 75 pitches.

The Blue Jays took control in the third when they used six straight hits to score five runs with two outs. Nathan Lukes started the rally with a double into the left-field corner and scored when Vladimir Guerrero Jr. lined a single to left. Kazuma Okamoto kept it going by singling off the glove of third baseman Durbin and Springer made the Red Sox pay by homering just over the Green Monster in left to make it 4-0.

Varsho continued the inning with a single to center and he scored when Ernie Clement doubled off the base of the left-field wall to go up 5-0.

Gray had been 10-0 since coming off the injured list in mid-May. This was his worst outing since giving up five earned runs in four innings in a 6-0 loss to Minnesota on April 14.

Cease, pitching on the second anniversary of his no-hitter for the Padres, didn’t give up a hit until Andruw Monasterio doubled to lead off the sixth.

Monasterio did not advance, however, as Cease induced Connor Wong to ground out, struck out Anthony Seigler and retired Ceddanne Rafaela with a pop out to shallow center.

–Field Level Media

 

Kraft Being Krafty

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team offered Christian Gonzalez a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

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Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, pocketing $31 million per season on his four-year, $131 million contract that he signed this offseason.

Gonzalez, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).

–Field Level Media

The Streak is ONE

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Romy Gonzalez’s pinch-hit RBI double sparked a two-run eighth inning, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 6-4 win over the visiting Toronto Blue Jays on Friday night.

The shot into the left-field corner brought Jarren Duran home from first base with the go-ahead run before Anthony Seigler capped his 4-for-5 day with a wall-ball double to plate another off Toronto reliever CJ Van Eyk (0-1).

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Seigler, who batted leadoff, scored two runs, drove in two more, hit a leadoff homer, and added two doubles while falling just a triple short of a cycle.

The Red Sox have won 16 of their last 17 games.

Garrett Whitlock (6-1) earned the victory in relief, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 391st career save to take sole possession of ninth on the all-time list.

The Blue Jays clawed back from 4-0 down to tie the game. Starter Trey Yesavage struck out nine across four innings of three-run ball.

Kazuma Okamoto, who entered the night 0-for-22 since the All-Star break, went 2-for-5 with a three-run homer in the seventh. It was his 23rd, which moved him past Shohei Ohtani for the most by a Japanese rookie in a single MLB season.

Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Daulton Varsho also had multi-hit games for Toronto.

After Patrick Sandoval danced out of a bases-loaded jam in the first, Seigler immediately staked the Red Sox to a 1-0 lead by depositing Yesavage’s fourth pitch into the right-field stands.

The Toronto righty’s frustrating outing continued two innings later, as he fanned the side in the second before allowing another home run in the third. Seigler knocked an opposite-field single before crossing the plate on Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-run shot just over the top of the Green Monster.

Yesavage retired six of the final seven batters he faced to keep it 3-0, but the offense could not take advantage of back-to-back innings with two aboard. In the fifth, Guerrero singled and Okamoto doubled to put two Blue Jays in scoring position with one out, but Tyron Guerrero relieved Sandoval and escaped the threat.

The Red Sox added to their lead when Masataka Yoshida scored on Andruw Monasterio’s sacrifice fly in the sixth. It could have been more, but Toronto left fielder Nathan Lukes gunned out Caleb Durbin trying to score from second on Connor Wong’s single to end the inning.

In the seventh, Okamoto brought Toronto right back into the game with one big swing, taking Greg Weissert deep to center field for a three-run shot. Ernie Clement (hit by pitch) and Guerrero (single) set the table.

After Jeff Hoffman’s bases-loaded escape in the seventh, the Blue Jays manufactured the tying run off Whitlock — the first he allowed in 13 appearances — in the eighth. Lukes hit a leadoff double to left and Varsho dunked a single into right, setting up pinch hitter Andres Gimenez’s sacrifice fly.

–Field Level Media