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Flores, Jr.; Lowe Power Pirates

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PITTSBURGH – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Rafael Flores Jr. and Brandon Lowe each homered to propel the Pittsburgh Pirates to an 8-4 victory over the visiting Boston Red Sox on Friday night.

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Flores, who had two three-run home runs during Thursday’s 13-1 triumph over Miami, hit a solo home run in the second, and Lowe smashed a Jovani Moran changeup for a three-run home run in the fifth.

Flores collected three hits in the victory. Pittsburgh also received two hits and three runs from Bryan Reynolds.

Bubba Chandler (6-8) limited Boston to two runs on four hits in five innings to earn the win. He walked two and struck out five.

Nick Sogard had two hits and two RBIs for Boston, which lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.

After Flores opened the scoring with his fourth home run of the season, Pittsburgh took a four-run lead by scoring three times in the fourth. It was 3-0 after an Esmerlyn Valdez double drove in Reynolds and Ronny Simon, and Flores followed with an RBI single to stretch the lead to 4-0.

Boston starting pitcher Jake Bennett (7-6) was pulled after four innings. He allowed four runs on five hits, walked one and struck out six.

Boston trimmed its deficit to 4-2 in the fifth. Andruw Monasterio hit an RBI single to make get the Red Sox on the board, and Nick Sogard drove in Jarren Duran with a sacrifice fly to center field for Boston’s second run.

Lowe’s home run extended Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-2.

Sogard drove in Duran a second time with an RBI single that trimmed Pittsburgh’s lead to 7-3 in the seventh, but the Pirates got the run back in the bottom of the inning when third baseman Caleb Durbin made a wild throw to first that allowed Reynolds to score.

Masataka Yoshida’s single in the ninth with two outs drove in Eli White to make it 8-4. At that point, the Pirates replaced Kirby Yates with Mason Montgomery, who struck out Adley Rutschman with two aboard to secure the save.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Visit Pittsburgh for Three

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PITTSBURGH – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox will visit the Pittsburgh Pirates for the opener of a three-game series on Friday night, and both teams have rested bullpens and some much-needed momentum.

Boston ended a five-game losing streak with a 7-0 victory over the Toronto Blue Jays on Thursday in the finale of a four-game set. The win allowed the Red Sox to avoid being swept in a series for the first time since mid-June (against Toronto).

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Boston was nursing a 1-0 lead when Caleb Durbin hit a grand slam in the eighth inning. Rookie Payton Tolle gave up two hits over eight innings before Greg Weissert pitched the ninth, hours after being recalled from Triple-A Worcester.

“We needed a deep start, (and Tolle) got a great deep start,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said. “We needed a win, and (Tolle) gave us a win. He was awesome. … He’s been really good and we’re gonna need him to keep doing that down the stretch, but it was a really good outing.”

Tolle retired the last 17 batters he faced in the longest outing of his MLB career.

“I just try to do what I can on any given day and was fortunate enough to have a deep one today,” Tolle said.

As good as Tolle was, Pittsburgh’s Braxton Ashcraft was even better in his team’s 13-1 triumph over Miami on Thursday. Ashcroft needed only 85 pitches to throw a complete game, giving up three hits and striking out 10 batters to help the Pirates end a three-game losing streak.

“He’s an All-Star, man,” Pittsburgh manager Don Kelly said. “He earned that in the first half. Certainly did today coming off some tough losses. To (pitch) the way he did today was outstanding.”

“I think you saw the product of hard work, putting your head down and not paying attention to what’s going on externally. … I think it’s the start of something really cool down the stretch.”

Boston left-hander Jake Bennett (7-5, 3.17 ERA) will take the mound on Friday for his first career start against the Pirates. He allowed four runs on five hits in 5 1/3 innings in his last outing, a 7-3 loss to the Athletics on Saturday.

Pittsburgh is expected to start right-hander Bubba Chandler (5-8, 4.26 ERA) in his first career appearance against Boston. He won his second straight start on Saturday, scattering three hits over six scoreless innings in a 9-0 victory over the New York Mets.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox Facing Adversity (Again)

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TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – The Toronto Blue Jays could be catching the visiting Boston Red Sox at the right time tonight in the opener of a four-game series. The Red Sox, who have been the hottest team in the majors for more than a month, are coming off two consecutive home losses to the lowly Athletics over the weekend. The 7-3 loss on Saturday snapped Boston’s nine-game winning streak, which came not long after a 15-game win streak from July 3-22.

It is the first time since June 30-July 1 that the Red Sox have lost two in a row.

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They still have won 27 of their past 32 games as they embark on a seven-game road trip following a 4-2 homestand.

“It’s been a minute,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after a 4-3 loss on Sunday. “When the (15-game) winning streak ended, I was like, ‘We knew that was going to happen eventually,’ and I think in this case you probably knew this was going to happen eventually.

“You’re not going to win every single series the rest of the year. … You move on, tip your cap and move on to Toronto.”

The Red Sox are scheduled to start Sonny Gray (14-2, 2.78 ERA) in the series opener. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Blue Jays. In two starts against them this season, he is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA.

Fellow righty Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.96) is expected to make his second start with the Blue Jays on Monday after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs. In his Toronto debut on Wednesday, he allowed three runs on six hits in four innings against the Houston Astros, striking out four and walking two.

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.

Boston will be facing a Toronto team which has little time to recover from a three-city, seven-game road trip which concluded over the weekend in Philadelphia.

While the Blue Jays finished the trip with a 4-3 record, they were forced to put a lot of tread on their tires with four of the games going to extra innings — including Sunday’s 7-6, 12-inning loss to the Phillies which prevented a Toronto sweep.

The Blue Jays are still holding out hope of making a serious run for the third American League wild-card spot, which is currently occupied by the Texas Rangers. The Blue Jays are 3 1/2 games behind Texas but also have four teams between them and the Rangers (plus the Seattle Mariners, who are currently tied with Toronto).

“Everybody still believes, from our front office all the way to our locker room,” Toronto designated hitter George Springer said. “We’re one good stretch away from being right where we want to be.”

“This could be our season,” added Ernie Clement, who had an RBI double on Sunday. “If we play really, really well, it’s going to put us in a great position. We’re just going to show up every day and try to take care of business.”

The series in Toronto is likely to see the Red Sox debut of catcher Adley Rutschman, who was obtained in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 3. Rutschman won’t play on Monday — instead having a workout day — but is expected to debut over the four-game set.

“Make sure he comes out of (the workout) OK and we’ll assess him after that,” Tracy said.

Rutschman has been on the injured list since July 19 with inflammation in his left wrist.

–Field Level Media

 

A’s Snap L Streak, End Sox Win Streak

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Gage Jump allowed two runs and struck out 11 over six innings, while Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte homered as the Athletics 7-3 defeated the host Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Jump (5-7) gave up six hits and walked two for the Athletics, who snapped a nine-game losing streak and won for only the second time in 14 games. Jonah Heim and Donovan Walton had two RBIs each, while Jacob Wilson went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

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Andruw Monasterio drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who had their nine-game winning streak halted. It was just their fourth loss in 31 games.

Red Sox starter Jake Bennett (7-5) gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Caleb Durbin singled in a run in the ninth for the Red Sox, who loaded the bases with two out against Hogan Harris. But Harris induced Eli White to line out to center and picked up his 10th save.

The Athletics took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on Heim’s two-run single off the green monster in left field.

Walton’s pinch-hit two-run ground-rule double in the sixth extended the lead to 5-2.

The Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth but Jump fanned Jarren Duran and Connor Wong.

Soderstrom’s solo homer in the seventh made it 6-2. His 19th home run of the season came on a drive into the right-field stands, estimated at 413 feet, off of reliever Raymond Burgos.

Bolte hit his fifth home run to center in the ninth, also off of Burgos.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in the first on Monasterio’s two-out, two-run single. It stretched his hitting streak to 10 games and on-base stretch to 20 games. The Red Sox stole three bases in the inning, two by Jahmai Jones and one by Durbin.

The Athletics got on the board to make it 2-1 in the fourth on Brian Serven’s soft infield RBI single in front of the plate with two out. The tapper scored Wilson — who led off the inning with a double — from third base.

The Red Sox outhit the Athletics, 10-8. Jones went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Nick Sogard went 3-for-4.

Boston left a dozen men on base and went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox “Woo” Adley

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WORCESTER – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox sent recently acquired catcher Adley Rutschman on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Worcester, moving him closer to his debut with his new club.

Rutschman, 28, was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday along with fellow catcher Jake Rodgers and cash for Carlos Narvaez, three minor leaguers and a player to be named.

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A left wrist injury forced Rutschman to the injured list on July 20. An All-Star this season, Rutschman was batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games for Baltimore. The three-time All-Star is a career .254 hitter with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs in five seasons and 572 games for the Orioles.

The Red Sox have stormed back into playoff contention by going 32-5 since June 25.

Rutschman was in the leadoff spot for Worcester on Saturday and expected to catch five innings.

–Field Level Media

Peyton Tolle Fans 14 in Win

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Payton Tolle recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts and Jarren Duran homered to help the Boston Red Sox extend their winning streak to nine games by beating the visiting Athletics 13-1 Friday night.

Duran’s home run, his 16th of the season, came against starting pitcher Jack Perkins and ignited a five-run second inning. It was his third home run in the last five games.

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Tolle (7-6) didn’t allow a baserunner until Tyler Soderstrom led off the fifth with a home run. It was his 18th homer of the season and cut Boston’s lead to 9-1.

Tolle was pulled after six innings. He allowed one run on two hits and didn’t walk a batter. Raymond Burgos picked up the save by pitching three innings of hitless relief.

Perkins (2-8) gave up five runs on five hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out three. The Athletics have lost their last nine games.

In addition to Duran’s home run, Boston’s five-run second featured back-to-back doubles from Anthony Seigler and Jake Rogers that increased the lead to 3-0 and a two-run double from Wilyer Abreu that drove in Rogers and Nick Sogard to make it 5-0. Abreu collected two of Boston’s 15 hits and drove in three runs. Boston added four runs in the fourth. After Rogers scored on an errant pickoff throw by Hayden Juenger, the Red Sox received an RBI single from Abreu, an RBI double from Masataka Yoshida and an RBI single by Andruw Monasterio.

Sacrifice flies from Caleb Durbin and Yoshida increased Boston’s lead to 11-1 in the sixth.

It was 12-1 after Rogers scored from second on Ceddanne Rafaela’s infield single in the seventh. Rafaela stretched the lead to 13-1 when he scored on Durbin’s double later in the inning.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the loss. In addition to Soderstrom’s home run, Max Muncy had an infield single in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

Sox Rally 5 Times, Win in 13th

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Caleb Durbin’s RBI single up the middle in the 13th inning lifted Boston to a wild 12-11 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Red Sox’s eighth consecutive victory. Durbin capped a truly miraculous, come-from-behind Boston victory.

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After Wilyer Abreu was intentionally walked with one out, Durbin (3-for-6) plated automatic runner Nick Sogard from second base to end a 4-hour, 23-minute marathon in which the teams combined for 29 total hits and nine runs in extra innings.

Boston overcame five deficits to sweep the three-game series and win for the 31st time in 36 games.

The Red Sox rallied from 4-0 and 5-2 deficits to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth and trailed 7-6 before Abreu knocked a two-out, two-strike single in the ninth to force extras. Both teams scored twice in the 10th and once in both the 11th and 12th before Durbin came through in the clutch.

Brayan Bello (4-6) finally posted a zero in the top of the 13th as Boston’s eighth reliever behind starter Ranger Suarez, who worked just three innings.

Chase Meidroth hit a pair of two-run home runs and finished 3-for-5 to lead Chicago. Erick Fedde (6-7) took the loss.

In the ninth, Boston’s Connor Wong clanked a leadoff double off the Green Monster. Sogard’s sacrifice moved pinch runner Eli White to third, and White scored on Abreu’s knock two batters later.

Meidroth tagged Boston closer Aroldis Chapman for his second homer, giving Chicago a 9-7 edge in the 10th, but the hosts responded again. Andruw Monasterio plated Abreu on his second double of the game high off the left field wall. After Jarren Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases, Anthony Seigler’s sacrifice fly made it 9-9.

Chicago’s Colson Montgomery and Abreu traded sac flies in the 11th, but the Red Sox squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity.

In the 12th, the White Sox’s Sam Antonacci knocked a go-ahead single over shortstop. Meidroth followed with a single to left, and Duran cut down a potential insurance run with his throw to the plate.

Jake Rogers followed with a sac fly in the bottom half.

Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, Monasterio, Seigler and Wong each had two hits for Boston. Montgomery had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox.

–Field Level Media

Mostly Sonny, 100% Chance of Win

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu highlighted a 2-for-3 night with three runs and his 20th home run of the season, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

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Sonny Gray (14-2) fired six scoreless innings as Boston won its seventh consecutive game. The right-hander allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight.

Tyron Guerrero, Garrett Whitlock and Jovani Moran threw one inning apiece to complete the four-hit shutout. Moran walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, then struck out the next three batters.

Abreu cranked a third-inning solo shot to the right-center-field bullpen to lead the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

Jarren Duran went 2-for-3 with a double and a run, helping Boston improve to 30-5 since June 25.

Chicago’s Miguel Vargas finished 2-for-3. Massachusetts native Sean Burke (7-6) allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He fanned four and walked two as the White Sox took their third defeat in four games.

The Red Sox jumped out to a first-inning lead for the second straight game. Abreu hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Willson Contreras knocked an RBI single into left-center field.

Chicago nearly knotted the score in the third, but Sam Antonacci was tagged out at home on a 5-3-2 putout. Caleb Durbin made a diving stop on Vargas’ infield single. After the third baseman threw across the diamond, Contreras fired a strike to Connor Wong for the inning-ending out.

In Boston’s half of the third, Abreu continued his hot streak with a two-out solo homer. Burke struck out the first two batters of the inning, but the Boston right fielder socked a 3-2 pitch 390 feet to right-center.

Duran manufactured the third Red Sox run in the seventh, hitting a leadoff single, stealing second, reaching third on a throwing error and scoring on Andruw Monasterio’s sacrifice fly.

In the eighth, Abreu drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Durbin’s two-out hit.

Contreras exited in the fifth inning due to an illness.

–Field Level Media

Pressure Is On: Same As It Ever Was

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

FENWAY – In 2023, infielder Kristian Campbell hit .309 for the Sox High-A Greenville ball club. He hit his first MiLB homer that August 27th and things were looking good. In 2024, things looked even brighter. Campbell hit .330 for a combo of Greenville (High-A), Portland (Double-AA) and Worcester (Triple AAA). He was named Baseball America’s and USA Today’s minor league Player of the Year.

On March 27, 2025, Campbell became the first non-Japanese Red Sox player to make his Major League Baseball debut and start on Opening Day in 25 years (Jackie Bradley Jr. in 2000).

Campbell was the first of a “Little Big 3” the Red Sox would be entertaining at the MLB level, with both infielder Marcelo Mayer and outfielder/slugger Roman Anthony, the power and long ball hitter of the bunch, soon to join the show. The future of the Red Sox was right then, the same as it is right now.

It all seemed like a lock, especially when Campbell signed an eight-year, $60 million contract. But, Campbell has toiled in the Sox MiLB system – playing winter ball in Puerto Rico and doing the I90 shuffle out at Polar Park Worcester. He’s played 85 games for the Exit 19s in 2026, and is currently batting .246 (as of August 4) but he leads the team in strike-outs with 107.

All three of the “Little Big 3” have struggled mightily this season. Anthony got off to a very slow start but was batting lead-off for the Red Sox as they broke Spring Training camp. But, he’s been out since May 5, recovering from a partially torn tendon in his right hand and wrist.

Mayer is another story, altogether, as he is gone. He had struggled all season, begging to find some consistency at the plate, but instead, he was traded Monday for Eric Miller, San Francisco’s left-handed closer who will be added to strengthen and deepen the 7-8-9th inning Boston bullpen.

Mayer, 23, played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna.

With the trade, Boston’s “Big 3” has become the “One and Done,” sticking with the basketball phraseology. Campbell toils with the WooSox, Mayer heads west as a young man with nothing but potential in his suitcase. Meanwhile, Anthony remains the mystery man, with no timetable for return, if any.

The Red Sox are rounding second and heading for third as post trade deadline day leads to only the true dog days of August, and then the stretch from third to home and a (very) possible postseason berth. All it took was a 15-game winning streak and a sweep of the LA Dodgers with a 6-1 west coast road trip upon return to Fenway Park which still has visions of Phish dancing in our heads.

Boston takes on that stretch with six of their best, whether in the starting lineup or acting as key reserve players either on the injured list or close to it:

  • Newly acquired utility man Curtis Mead on IL (left wrist fracture)
  • Newly acquired all-star level catch Adley Rutschman (left wrist inflammation)
  • Starting pitcher/ace Garrett Crochet (shoulder and lateral issues) has August 25 circled for potential target date for return
  • Shortstop Trevor Story (sports hernia) on the road to recovery
  • Isiah Kiner-Falefa (left forearm) could be back in 10 days
  • Slugger OF Roman Anthony (right ring finger/wrist injury) and has not resumed swinging a bat, but has been working out regularly.
  • Now, it’s left for interim manager Chad Tracy to piece together as he’s done since former manager Alex Cora was fired on April 26th.

The one name that shouldn’t return to Worcester, at any time, is Tracy who squarely deserves a full-time designation instead of interim, a major league level bump in salary and the thanks of a grateful GM, Craig Breslow, as Tracy played a major role in saving both of their jobs.

Six + One + Six + One for Sox

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox scored six runs in both the first and sixth innings en route to a 14-2 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox to open a three-game series on Tuesday night.

Seven Boston batters logged multi-hit games highlighted by Wilyer Abreu cracking two long homers, Caleb Durbin punctuating the opening frame with a grand slam and Willson Contreras recording RBI singles and scoring in both big innings.

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Jarren Duran also went deep and left-handed starter Patrick Sandoval (1-0) pitched five-plus innings for the Red Sox, who have won six straight and 15 of 18 since the All-Star break. Brayan Bello recorded the final 10 outs for a save.

Boston hit a season-high four homers for the second straight game, including three off Chicago starter Davis Martin (9-6), who allowed a career-high nine runs on 10 hits across five innings.

The Red Sox showed no signs of a hangover from their weekend sweep of the Los Angeles Dodgers, sending all nine men to the plate during a six-run first.

Nick Sogard banged a leadoff double off the Green Monster and Ceddanne Rafaela was hit by a pitch. After an Abreu fly ball moved Sogard to third, Contreras’ line-drive single drove in the first run.

Masataka Yoshida continued the line with another base hit before Durbin’s big swing to left center extended the score to 5-0. Duran made it back-to-back jacks with a solo shot over the bullpens.

Chicago got traffic on the basepaths in every inning against Sandoval, but he escaped without any damage done until the fifth. The Boston southpaw stranded the bases loaded after Randal Grichuk’s leadoff double and a two-out single and walk in the fourth.

In the fifth, the White Sox nabbed their first run on a Miguel Vargas sacrifice fly before Sandoval induced an inning-ending double play. Abreu got that run right back for the Red Sox a half-inning later, depositing another solo homer out to deep center with one out.

The White Sox turned consecutive walks into another run on Braden Montgomery’s RBI grounder in the sixth. Reliever Erik Miller, making his Boston debut after being acquired from the San Francisco Giants at Monday’s deadline, entered the game and struck out pinch hitter Tristan Peters to end the threat.

It became a laugher during the six-run sixth that Andruw Monasterio sparked with a two-run single up the middle to score Durbin (walk) and Duran (single). Three batters later, Rafaela’s double drove home two more before a Contreras single and Yoshida double concluded the scoring.

–Field Level Media