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Gio Gem

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WASH DC – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Trevor Story homered among four hits, Lucas Giolito pitched into the eighth inning, and the visiting Red Sox routed the Washington Nationals 11-2 in a morning start on the 4th of July in The District.

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Story added three singles, drove in four runs and scored three for Boston, which won for the third time in four games. Jarren Duran had two hits and three RBIs for the Red Sox, who collected four hits on the day.

Giolito (5-1), facing the team that drafted him in 2012 for the first time, allowed a run on four hits in 7 2/3 innings. He struck out seven and walked three in his first Nationals Park appearance since his rookie season in 2016.

Michael Soroka (3-6) was charged with seven runs on nine hits in four-plus innings for the Nationals.

Washington’s Daylen Lile extended his hitting streak to 11 games with a ninth-inning RBI double. Nationals catcher Keibert Ruiz went 1-for-4 in his return from the injured list after he was hit in the head with a foul ball while in the dugout on June 24.

Boston opened the scoring in the second inning, starting with a leadoff single from Story, who promptly stole second. Then, with one out, Ceddanne Rafaela doubled to plate Story. Raffaela advanced to third on a groundout and scored on Duran’s single.

The Red Sox broke it open with a seven-run fifth, which began with a Roman Anthony doubl, an Abraham Toro walk and a Carlos Narvaez single to load the bases.

After walking Wilyer Abreu to force in a run, Story singled to center to score two runs and put an end to Soroka’s day. Marcelo Mayer singled off Zach Brzykcy to score Abreu, making it 6-0. Brzykcy retired the next two batters, but Duran doubled in two runs and Toro later added an RBI single to boost the lead to 9-0.

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Washington got on the board when CJ Abrams singled to open the sixth, stole second and later scored on a sacrifice fly by Luis Garcia Jr.

Story capped his day with a two-run home run, his 13th of the season, in the eighth inning to make it 11-1.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox “Stranded” in Nightcap

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Christian Encarnacion-Strand’s seventh-inning grand slam sparked a Cincinnati comeback as the visiting Reds defeated the Boston Red Sox 8-4 in the finale of a three-game series on Wednesday night.

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Encarnacion-Strand joined Tyler Stephenson, Gavin Lux and Matt McLain with multiple hits for the Reds, who erased a 3-0 deficit by scoring five in the seventh and three in the eighth. They remain the lone major league team that has not been swept this season.

Despite trailing for most of his outing, Cincinnati right-hander Nick Martinez (6-8) wound up working 6 2/3 innings in his second straight winning start. He allowed four runs on nine hits and no walks with two strikeouts.

Boston errors helped fuel both of the Reds’ big innings, which included seven of their 12 total hits. Stephenson led off both frames with singles.

In the seventh, Stephenson reached second on Red Sox third baseman Abraham Toro’s fielding error on a Rece Hinds fielder’s choice before Lux walked to load the bases. Encarnacion-Strand then crushed a 439-foot slam to deep center.

The Reds continued the inning against Red Sox reliever Greg Weissert (2-3) with a one-out double from TJ Friedl, who scored on Elly De La Cruz’s two-out single.

Trevor Story went 3-for-4, Ceddanne Rafaela had two hits and Wilyer Abreu (home run) and Romy Gonzalez each had two RBIs for Boston, which won the first two games of the series.

Back-to-back doubles by Marcelo Mayer and Gonzalez pulled the Red Sox within 5-4 in the seventh. Gonzalez, though, was thrown out trying to take third, as left fielder Austin Hays fielded the ball high off the Green Monster.

After Stephenson’s single in the eighth, a fielder’s choice, a walk and an Encarnacion-Strand single loaded the bases ahead of Santiago Espinal’s RBI hit to right. Friedl then reached on shortstop Story’s error, turning a fielder’s choice into two runs.

Rafaela gave Boston a lead in the second, doubling to deep center field and reaching third on Friedl’s fielding error before scoring on a Gonzalez sacrifice fly.

Red Sox opener Brennan Bernardino (1 2/3 innings) and the duo of Jorge Alcala (1 1/3 innings) and Chris Murphy (2 2/3 innings) allowed Boston’s lead to stand up through two-thirds of a bullpen game. The trio allowed three hits and no runs through the first 5 2/3 innings.

Right fielder Hinds took a likely extra-base hit away from Duran to end the fifth, but he just missed grabbing Abreu’s two-out, two-run homer into the first row of the corner seats in the sixth. Story’s third hit of the game set the table as Boston’s lead increased to three.

Encarnacion-Strand was a late lineup addition after the Reds scratched Spencer Steer, whose right hand was swollen from getting hit by a pitch Wednesday afternoon during the completion of a game suspended Tuesday night.

–Field Level Media

Sox Rally in 9th to Beat Reds

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu and Trevor Story drove in runs in the eighth inning to lift the Red Sox to a 5-3 win over the visiting Cincinnati Reds in a suspended game that was completed on Wednesday afternoon.

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The first three innings were completed on Tuesday night before heavy rain halted play.

In Boston’s eighth, Abraham Toro hit a one-out single to left before pinch runner Nate Eaton swiped second. Carlos Narvaez’s 4-3 groundball out moved Eaton to third, and Abreu then knocked an RBI single through the right side.

Story followed with a two-out RBI double but got tagged out while slipping around the second base bag.

The two-run cushion was plenty for Aroldis Chapman, who tossed a 1-2-3 ninth inning to make a winner out of Brayan Bello (4-3). It was Chapman’s 14th save.

Bello took the mound when play resumed, as starter Richard Fitts was knocked out with the rain. Bello tossed five innings of one-run ball, allowing only a two-run homer to Spencer Steer in the fourth inning that gave Cincinnati a 3-2 lead.

Toro and Abreu each had two hits while Narvaez had two RBIs for Boston, which will go for the three-game series sweep in the nightcap.

The Red Sox had an 8-3 advantage in hits.

Lyon Richardson (0-3) took the loss for the Reds after Scott Barlow blew a save. Sam Moll had struck out four and did not allow a hit across Wednesday’s first two innings, following up three innings of starting work by Brady Singer.

Before the rains came on Tuesday night, the Red Sox held a 2-1 lead after scoring a pair of first-inning runs off Singer.

Jarren Duran and Roman Anthony hit back-to-back doubles, with Anthony’s liner into the left-field corner driving in the first Boston run. After Anthony tagged up on Toro’s fly ball, Narvaez made it 2-0 on a single through the right side.

Fitts retired six straight batters after issuing a leadoff walk, but the visitors halved their deficit in the third. Will Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand began the inning with consecutive singles, and Benson worked his way home thanks to TJ Friedl’s sacrifice bunt and a Matt McLain RBI groundout.

When play resumed, Steer swung for the fences against Bello, who had been the scheduled Red Sox starter for Wednesday night. The reigning National League Player of the Week knocked his 10th homer to left in the fourth, bringing in Gavin Lux following a walk.

–Field Level Media

Rain Stops Sox Game in 4th Inning

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Continuing rain in the Boston area suspended Tuesday’s game between the Boston Red Sox and visiting Cincinnati Reds in the top of the fourth inning. The Red Sox held a 2-1 lead on the strength of a pair of first-inning runs.

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The game will resume at 2:30 p.m. ET Wednesday before the regularly scheduled series finale at 7:10.

The Red Sox needed just two batters to take the lead against Cincinnati’s Brady Singer. Jarren Duran and Roman Anthony cracked back-to-back doubles for the first run. After Anthony moved to third on Abraham Toro’s fly ball, Narvaez made it 2-0 with an RBI single through the right side.

Boston starter Richard Fitts worked around a leadoff walk to retire the next six Reds he faced before the visitors halved their deficit. Will Benson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand began the third with consecutive singles, then Benson worked his way home on TJ Friedl’s sacrifice bunt Matt McLain’s RBI groundout.

After allowing two runs and three hits in the first, Singer threw two hitless innings and finished with four strikeouts and two walks to show for his three innings of work.

Fitts did not allow a hit outside of Cincinnati’s run-scoring frame. He posted one strikeout and one walk in three innings.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Ride Abreu vs Reds

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BOSTON – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox have to like what they have seen from Wilyer Abreu at the plate lately.

Abreu, who has hit three home runs in his past three games, will look to remain hot Tuesday when the Red Sox face the visiting Cincinnati Reds in the second contest of a three-game series.

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Abreu hit an inside-the-park home run and a grand slam during Boston’s 13-6 victory over Cincinnati on Monday. According to the Elias Sports Bureau, Abreu became the first Boston player with those two varieties of homers in the same game since 1939 (Jim Tabor).

Jocko Fields, Everett Scott, Charlie Gehringer and Roger Maris are the other MLB players who have hit a grand slam and an inside-the-park home run in the same game. Maris did it most recently, in 1958.

Abreu also belted a three-run home run during a 15-1 win against Toronto on Saturday.

After hitting 15 home runs in 132 games last year, Abreu has 16 homers in 74 games this season.

“So far, it’s been an outstanding season for him,” Boston manager Alex Cora said. “It’s been great.

“He got a fastball he could handle down in the zone for the grand slam, and that’s something we’ve been talking about with him. He gets a lot of pitches –especially fastballs — and he fouls them straight back. … There’s a lot of communication lately about who you are as a hitter and what (pitches) we need to attack. It’s getting to that point in the season where tendencies are out there and they know who you are.”

It was just the kind of game the Red Sox needed after going 1-7 in the previous eight games.

Cincinnati’s Chase Burns made his second MLB start, but exited the mound with one out in the first inning. Burns, the No. 2 selection in last year’s MLB draft, surrendered seven runs (five earned) on five hits.

Given how relentless the Red Sox were, Cincinnati manager Terry Francona wondered if Burns was tipping his pitches.

“(Tipping) is something you probably always need to check,” he said. “There were pitches that caught the plate. They were definitely hit hard. Those are always things you try to check for. Cora is one of the best at that. They were certainly ready.”

“We don’t play this game for a good showing, but I was proud of our guys,” Francona added. “We kept the energy up. We kept fighting. … There were some quirky things that happened tonight, but they battled. We’re OK.”

Jordan Hicks, a hard-throwing reliever the Red Sox received from the San Francisco Giants in the Rafael Devers trade, made his Boston debut and pitched a one-two-three eighth inning. One of his pitches was clocked at 100.5 mph.

Right-hander Brady Singer (7-6, 4.31 ERA) is scheduled to start on the mound for Cincinnati on Tuesday. Singer is 2-2 with a 4.71 ERA in four career appearances (all starts) against Boston. He’s allowed 28 hits in 21 innings against the Red Sox.

Righty Richard Fitts (0-3, 4.68) is Boston’s probable starter. It will be his first career appearance against the Reds.

Fitts allowed two runs on four hits in four innings during his last start, Wednesday’s 5-2 loss to the Los Angeles Angels, though he took a no-decision. He struck out six and walked one.

–Field Level Media

Sox Drop Series to Blue Jays

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – If Major League Baseball would determine series wins by cumulative score, the Boston Red Sox would’ve defeated the Toronto Blue Jays, 18-15. That’s not the way it works.

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In the rubber game of their three game series played under bright sunshine at Fenway Park on Sunday, Toronto beat Boston, 5-3. Red Sox starter Walker Buehler took his sixth loss of the season, largely because he let up back-to-back home runs in the top of the first inning.

Blue Jays right fielder Addison Barger, batting second, took Buehler long with a liner to right field to make it 1-0. Batting third, slugger Vladimir Guerrero Jr. plopped a long drive into the second row of fans in the Green Monster seats in left field to make it 2-0, Toronto.

In the second inning, Boston was able to fight back and tie the game, utilizing a solo home run by catcher Carlos Narvaez and a double by centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela who knocked in shortstop Trevor Story. Story had singled and then stole second base.

The Jays doomed Buehler in the visitor’s fourth inning, as the Boston starter allowed three walks sprinkled through an infield hit by centerfielder Nathan Lukes and a run-scoring single to right field by second baseman Andres Gimenez which scored Lukes.

Buehler was relieved in the fifth inning, but reliever Zack Kelly allowed a Lukes singled to score veteran shortstop Bo Bichette who had doubled off Kelly to lead off the inning.

The series had a very strange vibe, as Toronto opened the three-game set with a 9-0 victory on Friday night only to lose 15-1 on Saturday afternoon.

On Sunday, Jays reliever Yariel Rodriguez (2-0) earned the victory while Buehler’s record dropped to (5-6). Toronto closer Jeff Hoffman earned his 18th save of the season.

Boston fell to 13-13-1 in season series, 6-6-1 at home. Boston has allowed 5+ runs for the seventh time in the last 11 games, dating back to June 17. Boston has lost seven of their last eight , dating back to June 21. Previously, they won 10 of 12 games.

For the Red Sox, it’s on to Cincinnati as the Reds visit Fenway for a three-game set where the Sox will memorialize their 1975 American League title, but World Series loss to the Reds in one of the great Fall classics of our time.

Notes:

  • Reliever Zack Kelly left the game after facing only one batter in the sixth inning, suffering from right oblique tightness.
  • Toronto’s back-to-back HRs today marked the third time they hit back-to-backs this season.
  • Toronto is 29-18 (.617) since May 8, trailing only AL clubs Tampa Bay and Houston during that span.

Red Sox Have Their Way with Blue Jays

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu hit a three-run home run and SP Lucas Giolito pitched seven strong innings as the Red Sox ended a six-game losing streak by routing the visiting Toronto Blue Jays 15-1 Saturday.

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Abreu’s home run came against Toronto starting pitcher Chris Bassitt in the bottom of the first inning. It was his 14th home run of the season.

Giolito (4-1) gave up one run (unearned) on six hits in seven innings. He struck out five.

Ceddanne Rafaela and Romy Gonzalez contributed two-run home runs for the Red Sox, who collected 18 hits in the victory.

Boston rookie Roman Anthony had the first three-hit game of his MLB career. Two of his three hits were doubles. Gonzalez also had three hits.

Abreu added an RBI double in the second inning, when Boston scored three times to take a 6-0 lead. The Red Sox also received a two-run single from Trevor Story in the inning.

Toronto scored in the third, when Addison Barger’s single drove in Myles Straw and cut Boston’s lead to 6-1.

The Red Sox tacked on three runs in their half of the third to increase their advantage to 9-1. The inning featured a bases-loaded walk to Abraham Toro, a sacrifice fly from Carlos Narvaez and a throwing error on catcher Alejandro Kirk that allowed Anthony to score.

Bassitt (7-4) allowed nine runs (eight earned) on eight hits in two innings.

After Nick Sogard’s RBI single drove in Story in the sixth, Rafaela’s ninth home run increased Boston’s lead to 12-1. Gonzalez produced his third homer of the season in the seventh, when Boston stretched its lead to 14-1.

The Red Sox wrapped up the scoring in the eighth on a sacrifice fly by Toro that drove in Jarren Duran.

Boston entered Saturday’s matchup having scored four runs in its last three games.

–Field Level Media

Angels in the Afternoon

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ANAHEIM – (Staff and Wire Service Report) The Boston Red Sox will send right-hander Richard Fitts to the mound Wednesday afternoon when they visit the Los Angeles Angels for the final contest of a three-game series.

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It will be Fitts’ second career start against the Angels, and he’s undoubtedly hoping it turns out better than his first one.

Fitts (0-3, 4.71 ERA) took the loss when Los Angeles beat host Boston 7-6 on June 2. The Angels hit three home runs during a six-run first inning that night. Fitts exited the game after recording three outs on 39 pitches. He allowed six runs (five earned) and four hits and walked one.

Zach Neto, Mike Trout and Jo Adell hit the first-inning home runs.

Fitts was sent to Triple-A Worcester following that performance. He gave up seven earned runs on 15 hits in 12 innings for Worcester, and was recalled to Boston on Sunday after the Red Sox placed right-hander Hunter Dobbins (strained elbow) on the 15-day injured list.

“I was really focused on what I needed to work on, and the build-up was a big part of that,” Fitts told MassLive. “I was redefining my shapes of my pitches and it feels really good. I feel really confident and feel like I’m in a really good spot.

“I’m here to do whatever they need me to do. I want to pitch and help the team win.”

Fitts will try to prevent the Angels from sweeping the Red Sox. Los Angeles prevailed 9-5 on Monday and won 3-2 in 10 innings on Tuesday.

Christian Moore, the eighth overall pick in last July’s MLB draft, hit two home runs for Los Angeles in Tuesday’s win, which extended Boston’s losing streak to four games. The Angels have a 4-1 record against the Red Sox this season.

Boston is 9-19 in one-run games and 5-9 in extra-inning games. The Red Sox are winless in six extra-inning road games.

“Losing is not fun,” Boston shortstop Trevor Story said. “Winning is fun. We have half the season to play, so to this point we’ve been one game under (.500). I think that’s the frustrating part, is we know how good we can be. We’ve shown flashes of that, but you have to find a way to do it on a more consistent basis.

“We’re gonna stay positive about it,” Story continued. “We’re not gonna give up, I know that. We know the type of team we have and I feel good about us showing that in the second half.”

Neto, the Angels’ starting shortstop, left Tuesday’s game after making an error in the ninth inning. Los Angeles bench coach Ray Montgomery said Neto jammed his right shoulder during a stolen base attempt in the eighth inning.

“It’s feeling good,” Neto said. “I mean, it’s not great. But you know, we’re gonna see how I feel (Wednesday) morning, and hopefully — hopefully — you know, I come (in) feeling great, and be back in the lineup.”

Lefty Yusei Kikuchi (2-6, 3.01) is Los Angeles’ probable starter Wednesday. Kikuchi is 0-3 with a 5.91 ERA in 42 2/3 innings over 10 career appearances against Boston. He allowed three runs in five innings when the Angels beat the Red Sox 4-3 in 10 innings on June 3.

–Field Level Media

Sox Turn to Crochet in Rubber Game

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SEATTLE – (Wire Service Report) – Thanks to batterymates Cal Raleigh and Bryan Woo, the Seattle Mariners will have a chance to win their three-game series against the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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Raleigh hit his major-league-leading 27th homer of the season, a grand slam, and added a two-run double while Woo pitched seven scoreless innings of one-hit ball as the Mariners leveled the series with an 8-0 victory against the Red Sox on Tuesday night.

The series’ decisive game is set for Wednesday afternoon, when Red Sox ace left-hander Garrett Crochet (6-4, 2.24 ERA) is scheduled to take the mound against Mariners right-hander Luis Castillo (4-4, 3.29).

Raleigh snapped out of a 4-for-27 slump when he singled in the first inning, then belted a slam against Walker Buehler in a five-run second inning. He doubled home two more runs in a three-run fourth.

The homer moved Raleigh above the New York Yankees’ Aaron Judge for the top spot in the majors.

“What can you say about Cal … he’s been incredible,” Mariners manager Dan Wilson said. “And caught a shutout to boot.”

Woo, who was 0-3 in his previous four starts, gave up only a leadoff single to rookie Marcelo Mayer in the fifth. He walked two and fanned six while again pitching at least six innings, something he has done in all 14 of his starts this season.

“He’s that stopper when we need a big game from our starter,” Raleigh said of Woo. “And he’s showing up every time — Mr. Consistent.”

As for Raleigh’s own accomplishments?

“It’s great, but you know, just trying to keep the head down,” Raleigh said. “The minute you look up and start to admire (it all), that’s when the game will come around and put you in your place.”

Despite winning six of their past seven games, the Red Sox haven’t scored more than four runs during any contest in that stretch. Their offensive output doesn’t figure to improve after trading disgruntled slugger Rafael Devers, a three-time All-Star, to the San Francisco Giants on Sunday.

“(The lineup) feels good,” Red Sox left fielder Jarren Duran said. “We won (2-0 Monday), and (Tuesday) was just one of those days where you run into a great pitcher and he does his thing.

“I don’t think anybody is thinking too much about (Devers). We’re just focused on the team we have now, and we’re going to keep rolling.”

Crochet didn’t get a decision on Friday against the New York Yankees in a game the host Red Sox won 2-1 in 10 innings. He allowed one run on four hits in 8 1/3 innings, with one walk and seven strikeouts.

Crochet, who had won his previous two starts, is 0-2 with a 4.96 ERA in five career appearances (three starts) vs. Seattle. He lost to the visiting Mariners on April 24 after permitting four runs on five hits and five walks with nine strikeouts in five innings.

Castillo is winless in four starts since May 19, though he is just 0-1 with a 3.52 ERA in that span. He didn’t get a decision in Seattle’s 7-2 victory against the visiting Cleveland Guardians on Friday despite allowing just two runs on three hits over six innings. He walked three and logged a season-high seven strikeouts.

Castillo is 2-2 with a 4.91 ERA in four lifetime starts against Boston.

–Field Level Media

Rafael Devers, Meet Luka Dončić

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

BOSTON – Considering the major difference of a trade in MLB with no Salary Cap and the NBA with significant trade restrictions from the long-standing cap (maximum team salary), the recent trade of Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants reminds this columnist of the decision by the Dallas Mavericks to trade Luka Dončić to the Los Angeles Lakers this past winter.

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They’re both trades that shocked their respective leagues and fan base. They are both trades that left fans scratching their heads and wondering, ‘Why?”

They are both trades that left critics thinking, “They could’ve gotten more in return for such superstar players, as Doncic was an All-NBA player who led the Mavericks to the 2024 NBA Finals when they lost to the Boston Celtics and Devers is a Top 10 hitter in all of Major League Baseball.

The Mavericks received once All-NBA center Anthony Davis along with Max Christie and the Lakers’ 2029 first-round pick.

The Lakers received Dončić, Maxi Kleber and Markieff Morris from the Mavericks. There was also some collateral swappings with the Utah Jazz.

With the Devers trade to San Fran, the Red Sox received pitchers Kyle Harrison and Jordan Hicks, along with outfield prospect James Tibbs and minor-league right-hander Jose Bello.

In both cases, the GMs of each team (Dallas (Nico Harrison) and Boston (Craig Breslow) dealt with – pretty much – just one opponent to come to terms on a deal. The shock value of the trades had much to do with the fact nothing leaked from Dallas-LA nor Boston-SF.  There was one report that Boston bounced an idea or two off the Atlanta Braves, but nothing came of it.

That left the dealmakers – so let’s look a bit deeper into these two trades?

For the Mavericks, there was trouble with Doncic’s injury history, namely lower body strains that kept him on the NBA’s Injured List from Christmas to the trade date of February 2, 2025. Although Doncic led an upstart Mavericks club to the NBA Finals, there was some belief his weight and lack of conditioning might catch up with him sooner than later. In addition, he might simply walk from the Mavs when he was eligible for free agency,

For the Red Sox, the spring of 2025 saw Devers head south when the team went south for spring training. Boston obtained golden glove third baseman Alex Bregman and it prompted the Sox to ask Devers to switch to be their Designated Hitter for the current season. Devers went to the DH role reluctantly.

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When young first baseman Tristan Casas was injured and out for the season, the Sox asked Devers to consider a switch to first to give manager Alex Cora some flexibility and depth. From Devers there was more pouting and even an outburst to the media to communicate back to Cora and the Sox management team.

Also, Devers began the 2025 regular season in a ditch, but he recently broke from that slump in a big way and was among the American League leaders in walks, RBI, On Base Percentage, runs scored, doubles, extra base hits, home runs and total bases. After ending the slump in late April, Devers was batting .325, with 12 home runs, 33 base-on-balls, and was leading the majors with 43 RBI.

While his on-field performance was booming, Devers’ was clearly not rowing in the same direction as the rest of the organization in terms of introducing the three top prospects into active, everyday duty.

In a June 16 conference call with media, Red Sox CEO Sam Kennedy and head of baseball operations Breslow expressed their disappointment in not getting on the same page with Devers and shared their point of view of frustration and ultimately the decision to move Devers, with the buzz words of “because they could not find “alignment” with their star.”

In the 24 hours after the trade rumors leaked and became fact, there was more talk of “alignment,” and lack thereof, than at every Town Fair Tires store in New England.

Of course, not hidden in the deal is the fact the Red Sox will save some $250 million over the next eight-plus years as they drop the weight of Devers’ ten year $313.5 million contract, of which two years of the deal was in the bank. For that reason, Red Sox fans and season ticket holders have little patience as ticket prices remain amongst the highest in MLB while stars such as Mookie Betts, Xander Bogaerts and Chris Sale were all shipped out of Boston in cost savings moves, each with little return of on-field run producers.

In the end, the Red Sox will speak of alignment while the Mavericks won the Lottery – literally – when they lucked into the rights to draft Duke University star Cooper Flagg next Wednesday night.

The Mavericks will be redeemed on June 25.

The Red Sox will remain in limbo.