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.
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.