​What’s happening? That game didn’t feel real. The Red Sox have been riding an unbelievable winning streak, but for eight innings today it felt like a contest that could have taken place in April, May, or even June. The offense was stifled, producing only four baserunners through the first eight frames, and just one of them advanced past first base. Pitching was once again stellar—Payton Tolle and Brayan Bello combined for eight innings, each allowing one run—yet the bats were missing in action, failing to string together the timely hits or the long ball that could have changed the game’s trajectory. It’s a recurring pattern this season: the home run eludes them, and the offense can’t manufacture enough hits to plate runs.
In the ninth, however, the shift occurred. Ceddanne Rafaela led off with a single to spark the tying threat. After Wilyer Abreu popped out for the first out, Romy Gonzalez hit a firm ground ball to Francisco Lindor. It was a routine double-play ball for a shortstop of Lindor’s caliber, especially a two-time Gold Glove winner. But today’s hot-and-cold magic reared its head; Lindor boots the ball, placing two runners on. Caleb Durbin followed with a walk, and Andruw Monasterio did the same to load the bases and bring the tying run to the plate. Jarren Duran then lofted a sky-high pop-up, but with the infield playing in, left fielder Carson Benge charged and couldn’t squeeze the sliding catch. Gonzalez scored, and the game was tied.
Aroldis Chapman handled the ninth with little resistance, sending the contest to extras. In the extra frame, the Red Sox played textbook small-ball, bunting the ghost runner to third and bringing him home on a sacrifice fly. Garrett Whitlock was summoned for the bottom of the inning, recording a strikeout, then a routine flyout to left, and finally a grounder to seal the victory.
I’ve started to believe in this crew in recent weeks, and today pushed that belief to a new level. Beaten teams don’t rally in the ninth inning like this one did (even when aided by an error). They don’t strand a ghost-runner on second in a one-run game. They don’t have a reliever with an ERA above six come in and grind out 4.1 solid innings. Everything seems to be going the Red Sox’s way right now.
We’re nearing the All-Star break. Savor the streak, the week, and come back Friday for a doubleheader against the first-place Tampa Bay Rays. Go Sox.
Payton Tolle
Tolle pitched with a shortened, purpose-driven outing today and brought his best stuff. He attacked Mets hitters with four-seam fastballs in the zone they couldn’t touch, while placing his cutter on the glove-side for strikes and whiffs. On the day, he tied his career high with 18 whiffs.
Brayan Bello
Bello was recalled to provide cover for Tolle without sacrificing the bullpen’s balance. The objective remained to win this game, and Bello delivered. He entered with a runner aboard and delivered a strong relief effort, continuing the momentum built by the starter.