​CHICAGO (AP) — Caleb Durbin belted a two-run homer, lifting the hot-hitting Boston Red Sox to a 2-1 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Thursday and extending their winning streak to six straight. Boston, limited to four hits, still managed to sweep the three-game set as Patrick Sandoval and four relievers shut down Chicago. The Red Sox have won 11 of their last 13, outscoring opponents 35-10 during the streak.
Sandoval allowed one run on five hits over 4 1/3 innings in his first MLB start since June 2024 elbow surgery, signing with Boston in December on an $18.25 million, two-year deal. Tyron Guerrero (1-1) retired five outs after Sandoval left the mound. Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten each pitched an inning before Aroldis Chapman secured the save with his 19th in 21 chances. Boston’s bullpen limited Chicago to one run on four hits across 9 2/3 innings in the series. The White Sox dropped their sixth in eight games, with left-hander Anthony Kay (6-4) yielding four hits and two walks over 5 1/3 innings.
In New York, the Mets defeated the Royals 7-3. Tyrone Taylor, who entered after Mark Vientos suffered a fractured right hand from a pitch, delivered the game-tying homer to spark a five-run fifth inning, propelling the Mets to the win. Sean Manaea turned in his longest outing in 21 months, striking out six and allowing six hits, three runs (two earned) over seven innings for his first seven-inning effort since Oct. 8, 2024. Manaea improved to 2-4 as New York won a series for just the third time since June 1.
Taylor shifted to center field for rookie A.J. Ewing, who made his MLB debut at second base after Brett Baty moved to third when Vientos exited after the second inning. Interim manager Andy Green said Vientos will be placed on the injured list after the game. Bo Bichette produced the go-ahead sacrifice fly, followed by RBI hits from Carson Benge and Francisco Alvarez against Michael Wacha (5-7). Juan Soto homered in the seventh, and Jared Young added two doubles, including an RBI hit in the second.
In Baltimore, Jeremiah Jackson delivered a two-run double in the bottom of the eighth, lifting the Orioles to a 3-2 win over the Cubs. Tyler O’Neill opened the scoring with a homer for Baltimore in the second, but the Orioles’ only other hit until the eighth came from Jackson, who delivered the decisive blow against Chicago. With the Cubs ahead 2-1, Orioles managerial moves unfolded: Tyler Ferguson issued a walk and a hit batter with one out, prompting a pinch-hit switch for Beavers with lefty Ryan Rolison on the mound. The Orioles then summoned right-handed slugger Jackson to hit for Beavers, who delivered the late-game offense to flip the score.