The Boston Red Sox are red hot heading to the All-Star Break. The Sox won the 10th straight game with a 4-1 victory over AL East division rival Tampa Bay Rays this afternoon at Fenway Park on the strength of a 2-run HR by centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela with starting pitcher Bryan Bello giving up only one run in 6.1 innings pitched.
On June 27th, a little less than a fortnight after the team traded Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants, the Red Sox were 40-43 and 8 games behind the New York Yankees in the AL East having lost six games in a row and 7 of their last 10 games. Since then, the Red Sox are now 53-45 having gone 13-2 and now have second berth in the AL Wild Card, one game behind the Yankees and only 3½ games behind the Toronto Blue Jays who have since supplanted the Yankees at the top of the heap.
The Red Sox have earned sweeps against the Washington Nationals, Colorado Rockies and now the Rays. Much of their success has come at the expense of the Rays. Over this same period, the Rays from being 1½ out of first to 6 games back although they are only 1½ games back of the Seattle Mariners for the third AL Wild Card spot. Still, having gone 4-11 since June 27th, the Rays are not where they would like to be.
Under the circumstances, I'm sure the Red Sox wish they didn't have to stop for the All-Star Break. Three members of the Red Sox will be going to Atlanta for Sunday's mid-summer classic - third baseman Alex Bregman, starting pitcher Garrett Crochet and closer Aroldis Chapman. Bregman was activated from the IL on Friday after missing 43 games with a quad strain. Crochet pitched a complete game shutout yesterday, so I doubt he'll pitch in Atlanta while Chapman earned the save this afternoon.
President Trump is taking credit for the Red Sox success claiming the team hasn't lost since several members visited the White House when they were in D.C. on Fourth of July weekend. In reality, it is likes of Crochet, Bello, Chapman, Rafaela, Trevor Story, Wilyer Abreu and rookie Roman Anthony who are responsible for the team's recent success. If they sustain that success, then perhaps they can save manager Alex Cora's job. A little over a month ago, prior to the Devers trade, Cora was on the proverbial hot seat.
Still, there is a lot of baseball to be played with 64 games remaining on the schedule. The start of their second half will be a challenge as they face a trio of first place teams in the NL. They begin at Wrigley Field for a three-game series against the NL Central leading Chicago Cubs and then travel to Philadelphia to play the Phillies who are currently in a tie for first place in the NL East with the New York Mets. Then they return to Fenway to play the defending World Series champion Los Angeles Dodgers.
We'll see if the Sox remain this hot by the end of month when they're in the Twin Cities. But Red Sox Nation can enjoy the ride for now as the team is amid their longest winning streak since 2018 when they last won the World Series.
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