In April, the Boston Red Sox fired manager Alex Cora and were written off by most in the AL East race.
Fast forward three months, and the tide has turned. The Red Sox secured a 6-1 win over the Rays on Sunday to complete a four-game sweep of first-place Tampa Bay out of the All-Star break.
The win was the 13th straight for the Red Sox, who entered the break with nine straight wins over the Angels, White Sox and Mets. It’s the longest win streak in MLB this season. And it’s the second-longest in Red Sox history. Their longest win streak was 15 games in 1946.
Red Sox are surging under interim manager Chad Tracy
Dating back to a June 25 win over the New York Yankees, the Red Sox have now won 18 of their last 20 games. And they’ve improved to 50-48 to move into the thick of the postseason race.
Sunday’s win puts the Red Sox six games behind the Rays (56-42) and four games behind the Yankees (54-44) in the AL East. And if the postseason started Monday, they’d make the field as the AL’s last wild-card team in via a one-game cushion over the 50-50 Mariners.
It adds up to a remarkable turnaround for the Red Sox under interim manager Chad Tracy, who’s led Boston to a 40-31 record since taking over for Cora.
(IMAGN IMAGES via Reuters Connect / REUTERS)
The Red Sox have been doing it with strong hitting and pitching. They’ve allowed more than three runs just twice during their 13-game win streak while averaging 5.8 runs per game. Sunday’s win was another balanced performance.
Gray, Contreras lead the way on Sunday
Starting pitcher Sonny Gray surrendered five hits and four walks to the Rays in six innings. But it added up to just one earned run on an inside-the-park home run by Victor Mesa Jr. in the second inning.
Gray pitched his way out of jams in the first and third innings. He finished the third with a strikeout of Mesa and a flyout of Richie Palacios after allowing runners to reach first and third. From there, Gray allowed just a single and a walk over the next three innings, and Boston’s bullpen closed the last three innings without allowing a run.
With Sunday’s effort, Gray now sits at 12-1 on the season with a 2.48 ERA and 1.12 WHIP and 90 strikeouts and 28 walks in 101 2/3 innings.
Willson Contreras led Boston’s effort at the plate with his 22nd home run of the season. The All-Star first baseman hit a two-run blast in the fifth inning that extended Boston’s lead to 6-1.
He finished the day 1 of 3 at the plate with 1 walk, 2 runs scored and 2 RBI.
Up next, the Red Sox have consecutive three-game home stands against the Orioles and Blue Jays as they seek to extend their win streak and continue to improve their place in the AL East standings.
Read the full article here
