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Story Book Start; Shakey Ending

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BOSTON – (Staff and wire Service Report) – Boston’s Trevor Story had two hits, including a three-run home run, to lead the hometown Red Sox to a 7-5 victory over the visiting Miami Marlins on Saturday. The Red Sox are 16-2 in their last 18 games at Fenway Park.

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Story’s home run came against Miami starter Cal Quantrill and was part of a four-run third inning. After Jarren Duran hit an RBI double that allowed Roman Anthony to score, Story hit his 19th home run of the season to give Boston a 6-0 lead. Duran and Alex Bregman also scored on the home run.

Anthony and Bregman both added two hits for the Red Sox, who received 6 1/3 innings from starter Brayan Bello (9-6). Bello allowed two runs on four hits and struck out two.

Troy Johnston and Agustin Ramirez each hit a solo home run for Miami. Johnston’s homer was the first of his major league career. Both home runs came against Bello.

The Marlins have lost three games in a row, and seven of their last eight.

Quantrill (4-10) was pulled with two outs in the fourth. He allowed seven runs on eight hits, struck out two and walked one.

The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead on Masataka Yoshida’s two-run single in the first inning. After the four-run third extended Boston’s lead to 6-0, Bregman drove in Ceddanne Rafaela with a single to give the Red Sox a 7-0 advantage.

Johnston’s home run made it 7-1 in the fifth, and Ramirez hit his 18th home run of the season in the seventh. Johnston and Ramirez each collected two of Miami’s eight hits.

Miami made things interesting by scoring three runs against Sox reliever Isaiah Campbell in the ninth. Ramirez scored on an Heriberto Hernandez single, Hernandez scored on Eric Wagaman’s triple and Derek Hill’s single drove in Wagaman to cap the scoring.

Aroldis Chapman recorded the final out to earn his 22nd save.

The Marlins played without left fielder Kyle Stowers, who was given the day off after feeling tightness in his left side during Friday night’s 2-1 loss to Boston.

-Field Level Media

Ole ‘Mo is Back at Fenway

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

BOSTON – Momentum is the heartbeat of a Major League Baseball team when the calendar reads August 15th, so soon to be September 1st.

Yes, the definition is pressure-packed baseball, as in Momentum: “The driving force or advancing strength of a development or course of events.”

Winning two of their last three games after losing four of their previous five is a combination of lively heartbeats and killer heart-ache. It’s been the driving characteristic of the 2025 Boston Red Sox.

Now, Boston is an American League-best 25-12 (.676) since the start of July, and the Sox hold MLB’s second-best record in that span, only behind the NL’s Milwaukee Brewers (30-7).

Yet, games like Friday night’s 2-1 cliff-hanger have defined what the Summer of ’25 has been for Alex Cora and the Red Sox.

Miami Marlins starting pitcher Sandy Alcantara threw six innings of one-hit ball but let up a single run in the sixth. Boston Red Sox starter Lucas Giolito scattered seven hits but allowed only one run which came in the third inning. From the 1-1 tie in the 6th, with bullpens taking over the mound, it was anyone’s game.

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Giolito gave up consecutive doubles to Miami’s second baseman Xavier Edwards and left fielder Kyle Stowers which produced the only run for the Marlins as they faced a sturdy Giolito and three other Red Sox pitchers.

Boston tied the game in the sixth when DH Roman Anthony drew a walk and third baseman Alex Bregman doubled him in to score from first base. The game remained 1-1 until the ninth inning.

Alcantara, who went 6.0 IP, two hits, one run, one walk and seven strikeouts (86 pitches/65 strikes) gave way to RHP Anthony Bender in the 7th inning who gave way to RHP Lake Bacher in the 8th.

Giolito went 6.1 IP, seven hits, one run, one walk and five strikeouts but gave way to LHP Justin Wilson in the 7th who gave the ball to Garrett Whitlock in the 8th.

Arnoldis Chapman, Boston’s all-star closer pitched a 1-2-3 9th inning, striking out first baseman Eric Wagaman.

It was a game of chess for managers Clayton McCullough of the Marlins and Alex Cora of the Red Sox. McCullough chose not to play newfound closer designee Ronny Henriquez in the 9th and, instead, went with LHP Josh Simpson.

Simpson walked lead-off hitter Anthony and No. 2 hitter Bregman, then with none out and two on base, proceeded to hit Jarren Duran with a pitch to load the bases with none out.

All eyes turned to Boston veteran shortstop Trevor Story who delivered a game-winning base hit to right field to score Anthony for a 2-1 Boston walk-off victory.

Anthony scored both of Boston’s runs and Story went 2-for-4 with several stellar defensive plays, including turning a nidty inning ending double play in the 7th.

Chapman (4-2) was credited with the win, while Simpson (2-2) was charged with the loss.

The game was played in front of a sellout crowd of 36, 854 fans at Fenway Park.

The two clubs play the second game of a three-game series Saturday at 4:10pm. Brayan Bello (8-6) is scheduled to start for Boston while Cal Quantrill (4-9) will start for the Marlins.

 

 

 

Red Sox: One Step Forward, Two Steps Back

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HOUSTON – (Wire Service Report) – Houston’s starting pitcher Hunter Brown threw 6 2/3 strong innings and his battery-mate Yainer Diaz drove in three runs as the Astros beat the visiting Boston Red Sox, 4-1, on Wednesday in the rubber match of the three-game series.

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Brown (10-5) snapped a six-start winless streak by producing his 15th quality start of the season. Diaz finished 2-for-3 with a two-run home run and an RBI single to pace the Houston offense.

The Astros scored two runs against Red Sox starter Walker Buehler (7-7) in the bottom of the first inning. Jeremy Pena led off the frame with his 13th homer, drilling a 3-1 fastball 358 feet out to left field. Jose Altuve and Victor Caratini then worked walks before Diaz lined the first pitch he saw to left for an RBI double.

Buehler then found his stride. He retired Ramon Urias to strand two runners and initiate a stretch in which he retired 15 of 16 batters, needing only four pitches to complete the bottom of the fifth.

But after retiring Altuve and Christian Walker to open the sixth, Buehler issued a four-pitch walk to Caratini before Diaz struck again, blasting a 415-foot homer to left-center, his 17th homer of the season, to extend the lead to three runs.

Buehler allowed four runs on four hits and four walks, with three strikeouts, over six innings.

Brown retired the Red Sox in order in the first but scuffled an inning later, allowing four baserunners as Boston sliced its two-run deficit in half. Trevor Story, who reached on a leadoff double, scored on Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-out single to center field.

Brown eluded further trouble with a strikeout of Connor Wong then retired the side in order in the third and fifth innings and stranded Jarren Duran at third to cap the sixth. Brown allowed one run on six hits and three walks with four strikeouts.

Bennett Sousa relieved Brown with two outs in the seventh and struck out Roman Anthony to end that frame. Bryan Abreu notched his first save while stranding a pair of runners in the ninth.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Face Astros in Rubber Game

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – After the Houston Astros welcomed back Cristian Javier to their starting rotation on Monday following a 15-month absence due to Tommy John surgery, All-Star closer Josh Hader took his place on the 15-day injured list with left shoulder discomfort.

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Astros manager Joe Espada was non-committal when asked who would replace Hader at the back end of the bullpen. Right-hander Bryan Abreu seems the logical choice given his role setting up Hader, but Espada remains open to utilizing multiple options.

It’s uncertain how that may shake out on Wednesday when the Astros host the Boston Red Sox in the rubber match of their three-game series.

“For me, and I was talking to the relievers about this, for Josh Hader to be how successful he’s been, he needs guys to give him the ball with the lead,” Espada said. “All these guys have set him up to be the closer that he is. Not to take anything away from Josh. Josh is probably the best. But you need guys to help him get to that point, and these guys are capable of doing that. What you guys saw (Monday) with us piecing it together, we’re going to have to do more of that.

“I told them to be ready to go, and they’ve been ready to go the whole entire season. We have the weapons to do it.”

Right-hander Hunter Brown (9-5, 2.51 ERA) is scheduled to start the series finale for the Astros, one day after the team dropped a 14-1 decision.

Brown did not factor into the decision of a 5-3 road victory over the New York Yankees on Friday after allowing two runs on four hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 5 1/3 innings. He remained winless over his last six starts and is 0-2 with a 4.73 ERA during that stretch.

Among American League pitchers, Brown ranks first in hits per nine innings (6.21), second in opponent OPS (.571), and third in ERA and strikeouts (160).

Brown is 1-0 with a 2.19 ERA in two career starts against the Red Sox. He did not factor into the decision of a 2-1 road loss on Aug. 1 after surrendering one run on four hits and one walk with six strikeouts over seven innings.

Right-hander Walker Buehler (7-6, 5.40) has the starting assignment for Boston on Wednesday.

Buehler twirled six shutout innings in a 10-2 road win over the San Diego Padres on Friday, allowing four hits and two walks while recording four strikeouts.

He is 2-0 with a 3.27 ERA over his last six starts. Before that stretch. Buehler had dropped five of six decisions while recording a 9.29 ERA.

Buehler is 1-1 with a 3.72 ERA over four career starts against Houston. He did not factor into the decision of a 7-3 win over the Astros on Aug. 2 after allowing three runs on nine hits and three walks over 4 1/3 innings.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora started Abraham Toro at first base for the second time in the series on Tuesday, but is likely to start Romy Gonzalez at first in the series finale. Cora cited the balance the switch-hitting Toro and right-handed Gonzalez can offer his offensive attack.

“We’re going to mix and match,” Cora said. “Romy will probably play first (Wednesday). Try to keep the balance of the lineup. When teams have three lefties in the bullpen, it’s smart to keep Ref (Rob Refsnyder) and Romy on the bench if we’re going to be aggressive pinch-hitting. Having Abe swing the bat well is going to help us.”

–Field Level Media

Astros Additions Sink Sox

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HOUSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Houston Astros debuted their three additions made at the trade deadline to their home fans on Monday in the opener of a three-game series against the Boston Red Sox.

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For an offense that has been compromised by injury for lengthy stretches this season, the results were favorable.

Carlos Correa delivered an RBI single to ignite an uprising against Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, and Ramon Urias added a two-run homer that proved to be the difference in a 7-6 win. Jesus Sanchez was used as a pinch hitter in the eighth as Houston flashed the potential of its reinforcements heading into Tuesday’s rematch against Boston.

The Astros remain without Yordan Alvarez (hand) and Jake Meyers (calf), but their breakout against Crochet provided a snapshot of what their lineup could accomplish when fully healthy.

“Yes, and imagine when those guys get back,” Astros manager Joe Espada said of Alvarez and Meyers. “But, again, they’re not here, and I give credit to these guys that continue to battle every day. They continue to give quality at-bats, and we’re fighting through this.”

As has been the case for most of this injury-plagued season, the Astros were shorthanded on Monday. All-Star closer Josh Hader had his left shoulder examined pregame in response to discomfort, while setup relievers Bryan King and Bryan Abreu were both unavailable. Their absences forced Espada to mix and match over the final four innings.

“That was kind of fun,” Espada said. “Because I trust this bullpen. These guys have been good for us the entire year, and we need them.”

Right-hander Spencer Arrighetti (1-2, 7.43 ERA) is the scheduled starter for the Astros on Tuesday.

He made his return from a four-month stint on the injured list (fractured thumb) against the Miami Marlins on Wednesday and allowed five runs on 11 hits and one walk with five strikeouts over 3 2/3 innings in a 6-4 loss. It marked just the third start of the season for Arrighetti.

Arrighetti made one start against the Red Sox last season as a rookie. He allowed two runs on two hits and one walk with a career-high 13 strikeouts in seven innings in a 5-4 win on Aug. 10.

Right-hander Dustin May (6-8, 4.93) has the starting assignment for the Red Sox on Tuesday.

May allowed three runs on six hits over 3 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to the Kansas City Royals on Wednesday in his first start for the Red Sox following his trade- deadline acquisition from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He alternated wins and losses over his last six decisions and seven starts with the Dodgers, going 3-3 with a 5.54 ERA in that span.

In his lone career start against the Astros, May allowed one run on three hits and two walks with three strikeouts over 3 1/3 innings but did not factor into the decision of a 4-2 win on July 29, 2020, while pitching for the Dodgers.

Not only was Correa playing in Houston for the first time since being reacquired him from the Minnesota Twins, but Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman made his return following nine seasons with the Astros. Bregman, who finished 2-for-4 with a home run, reflected on the warm ovation he received from the crowd and how the Red Sox fashioned a late rally to get within a run.

“I feel like we’re playing really good baseball,” Bregman said. “Everyone in here is getting better and better every single game. I think we’re going to be right where we want to be.”

–Field Level Media

Cease and Desist

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SAN DIEGO – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Dylan Cease took a shutout into the seventh inning Sunday, while Luis Arraez delivered a two-run double to lead the San Diego Padres to a 6-2 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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In winning consecutive starts for the first time this year, Cease (5-10) permitted just four hits and two runs, walking two and striking out seven. It marked the first time since July 18 that Cease had pitched past the fifth inning.

Brayan Bello (8-6) absorbed the loss as he allowed five runs off six hits and three walks in 5 2/3 innings, whiffing seven. All the runs came with two outs, including the pair Arraez knocked in to initiate scoring in the bottom of the third.

Bello was an out from facing the minimum through three innings when Freddy Fermin lined a two-out single into center. After Fernando Tatis Jr. was hit by a pitch, Arraez drilled a pitch to left-center, just out of the reach of center fielder Jarren Duran, to score both runners.

Tatis made it 3-0 in the fifth by grounding an RBI single to left, just out of the reach of diving shortstop Trevor Story. It scored Jake Cronenworth, who blooped a one-out double down the left field line.

Xander Bogaerts upped the margin to 4-0 in the sixth by looping a run-scoring single to left to plate Manny Machado, who singled with one out and then stole second with two outs. Bello and reliever Chris Murphy combined to issue three straight walks, with Cronenworth cashing in Bogaerts on his free pass.

Boston scored its runs in the seventh after loading the bases with no outs. Romy Gonzalez’s potential double-play grounder was booted by Bogaerts to make it 5-2. The Red Sox re-filled the sacks with no outs, but relievers Jason Adam and Adrian Morejon combined to strike out the side.

Ryan O’Hearn capped the Padres’ scoring in the seventh with a sacrifice fly that chased home Tatis.

Arraez, Tatis and Fermin each collected two hits. Tatis reached base four times.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Dread Extra Innings

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SAN DIEGO – (Wire Service Report) – Ramon Laureano’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning Saturday night lifted the San Diego Padres to a 5-4 win over the visiting Boston Red Sox.

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Xander Bogaerts was placed on second to start the inning and reliever Garrett Whitlock (5-2) issued an intentional walk to Ryan O’Hearn. Laureano chopped the first pitch over the head of third baseman Alex Bregman and Bogaerts easily beat Roman Anthony’s throw home.

Jason Adam (7-3) stranded a pair of runners in the top of the 10th, inducing an inning-ending fielder’s choice grounder from Ceddanne Rafaela to earn the win.

Boston forced extra innings when Anthony slashed a ground-rule double to left-center off MLB saves leader Robert Suarez in the ninth that scored Rafaela. He legged out an infield hit to start the inning and swiped second.

San Diego went ahead in the fifth with two runs when Boston starter Lucas Giolito lost the strike zone, issuing four straight two-out walks after a leadoff single by Fernando Tatis Jr. Free passes to O’Hearn and Laureano drove in the tying and go-ahead runs.

Giolito allowed five hits and four runs in 4 2/3 innings, walking six and striking out one. San Diego starter Michael King lasted two-plus innings and 57 pitches, permitting two runs on four hits and two walks with a strikeout.

Making his first start since May 18 after a thoracic nerve issue sidelined him for nearly three months, King trailed 1-0 by the game’s third batter. Bregman lined the first of his two doubles and scored on Jarren Duran’s single to center.

Bogaerts evened the score in the second with his 10th homer, a liner into the seats in left that traveled an estimated 358 feet. The Red Sox regained the lead in the third with two runs as reliever Wandy Peralta balked home Bregman, who led off with his second double, and Masataka Yoshida’s fielder’s choice grounder scored Trevor Story.

The Padres got a run back in their half of the third as Bogaerts looped a two-out RBI single to center, scoring Luis Arraez.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Pound Padres

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SAN DIEGO – (Wire Service Report) – Boston’s Wilyer Abreu and Masataka Yoshida belted two-run homers and Walker Buehler tossed six scoreless innings as the visiting Red Sox stopped the San Diego Padres 10-2 on Friday night.

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Buehler (7-6) allowed four hits and two walks while striking out four in arguably his best outing of the year. The former Los Angeles Dodger improved his career mark against San Diego to 7-1 with a 1.67 ERA in 13 starts.

Nick Pivetta (11-4) took his first home loss of the year, permitting five hits and five runs in six innings while walking three and fanning three.

It was the eighth win in nine games for Boston, which scored double-digit runs for an major-league-high 18th time this year. The Red Sox got started with four runs in the fourth, thanks to a lapse in control by Pivetta.

After Alex Bregman led off with a single, the Red Sox’s first hit, Pivetta walked Jarren Duran and Trevor Story. Yoshida’s sacrifice fly cashed in Bregman, and a throwing error by Pivetta on a pickoff attempt at first scored Duran. Abreu capped the inning with his 21st homer, a two-run shot over the wall in right-center.

Bregman’s groundout to third in the fifth inning scored Connor Wong for a 5-0 advantage. Wong broke the game open in the eighth by lining a bases-clearing double into the left field corner off reliever Sean Reynolds after three straight walks filled the sacks.

The Padres avoided a shutout with two runs in the bottom of the eighth against reliever Chris Murphy via an RBI fielder’s-choice grounder from Ramon Laureano and Jake Cronenworth’s run-scoring single.

Yoshida capped the scoring in the ninth by lining his second homer of the year to right with Story aboard after a leadoff walk. Boston’s patient hitters worked eight walks, five issued by Reynolds.

oshida, Wong and Roman Anthony each collected two of the Red Sox’s 10 hits. Cronenworth and Luis Arraez bagged two hits apiece for San Diego.

The Padres stranded 12 runners and managed only one hit in seven at-bats with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Take On New Look Padres

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SAN DIEGO – (Wire Service Report) – Newcomers have already made a significant impact for San Diego, and they’ll aim to continue that trend as the Padres open a three-game home series against the Boston Red Sox.

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Ramon Laureano has hit like a sledgehammer in his first week with the Padres, while Freddy Fermin has given them more offense from the catching position than they’ve had most of the year.

Mason Miller has made his presence felt on an already-deep San Diego bullpen, and Nestor Cortes gave them a decent start on Wednesday night.

Then Ryan O’Hearn, who came over with Laureano from Baltimore a week ago, made his first significant contribution to his new team with a ninth-inning homer that tied Wednesday night’s game in Arizona. The Padres added another run in the ninth to pull out a 3-2 win.

Prior to drilling his first homer off a left-handed pitcher this year, O’Hearn had just a single to show for his first 12 at-bats with San Diego. The American League’s starting designated hitter in the All-Star Game last month needed something good to happen.

“Just got to keep going, keep getting comfortable, keep grinding out at-bats and hopefully continue to contribute,” O’Hearn said. “To do something finally felt good.”

The Padres come into the series with nine wins in 11 games and have crawled within two games of the first-place Los Angeles Dodgers in the National League West.

They have also jumped over the New York Mets for the second wild-card spot and have drawn within 2 1/2 games of the Chicago Cubs for the first wild card, which opens the postseason at home.

San Diego will try to keep the momentum going behind Nick Pivetta (11-3, 2.73 ERA). He last pitched on Aug. 1, allowing just one hit and one run in seven innings of a 4-1 win over St. Louis. Pivetta, who walked none and fanned five that night, has permitted just one run in 13 innings in two previous starts against Boston, where he pitched the last 4 1/2 seasons.

The Red Sox will counter with Walker Buehler (6-6, 5.74 ERA), who was no-decisioned on Saturday in his team’s 7-3 victory over Houston. Buehler gave up nine hits and three runs in 4 1/3 innings, walking three and whiffing none — the first time this season he failed to record a strikeout. He’s 6-1 with a 1.80 ERA in 12 career starts against the Padres.

Boston manager Alex Cora said Buehler is better than he’s pitched this year. The former Dodger mainstay has permitted at least three earned runs in nine of his last 11 outings.

“This guy is too important for us,” Cora said. “He knows he’s better than this and we know he’s better than this.”

Buehler’s uneven performance has been one of the few problems lately for the Red Sox, who won seven straight games prior to Wednesday night’s 7-3 home loss to Kansas City.

Boston trails Toronto by four games in the American League East and owns the top wild-card spot by one game over Seattle.

The Red Sox’s trade of Rafael Devers to San Francisco in June, which was widely criticized by national media, has turned out to be addition by subtraction. Boston is 27-16 since the deal and is scoring more runs than it did with Devers while playing better defense.

San Diego won two of three games in last year’s series at Fenway Park.

–Field Level Media

Roman Pockets “A Whole Lotta Lira”

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BOSTON – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – When in Rome, spend on the Romans. Red Sox outfielder Roman Anthony and the Sox organization are finalizing an eight-year, $130 million contract extension, according to multiple media accounts all reporting on Wednesday.

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The deal is pending a physical, includes a club option and will keep Anthony in Boston through the 2034 season. Anthony was nursing a sore back in the past two days, but not a serious injury.

Anthony, 21, created a buzz before he suited up with the Red Sox by launching a 497-foot grand slam for Triple-A Worcester on June 7. Called up to Boston two days after that blast, Anthony is batting .283 with two homers, 15 doubles and 19 RBIs in 46 games with the Red Sox. He has hit safely in each of his last eight games, however he has been idle since Sunday due to the back tightness issue.

Anthony was selected by the Red Sox in the second round of the 2022 MLB Draft.

–Field Level Media