Red Sox 5, Rays 4

 

Ceddanne Rafaela for President! (I know he's not native-born, but don't ice my enthusiasm). Bottom of the ninth, one out, one on, and the Sox trailing by one, Rafaela, who had an RBI single in the first, steps to the plate and . . . blasts a two-run, walk-off homer 421 feet into deep left center! Red Sox win! Eighth straight victory! Boston improves to 51-45, moving up to third place in the AL East and second place in the AL Wild Card standings. 

Rejoice, Beantown, rejoice! The Sox will enter the All-Star break on no worse than an 8--2 streak, possibly 9-1 or better depending on the next two games. And Bregman's back in the lineup after six weeks on the DL! And Yoshida's back, too! And rookie sensation Roman Anthony's starting to come into form! We may never lose another game again!

Last night, Cora kept with Wednesday's outfield of Abreu, Rafaela, and Duran in right, center, and left, respectively. Yoshida was back in at DH again - it looks like Cora's going to be platooning him and Anthony in the DH spot for the time being. Anthony pinch-hit for Toro in the ninth and drew a walk, and Refsnyder came off the bench for Abreu in the eighth, only to strike out. 

Starting pitcher Hunter Dobbins had to leave the game in the second inning due to right knee pain. The Sox wound up using six relievers who collectively got six strike-outs and allowed six hits. This afternoon (4:10 pm), Crochet (9-4, 2.39) will start against the Rays' Shane Baz (8-4, 4.34). 

This will be the first time this season that Crochet faces the Rays. But in his last start at Fenway on June 9, a heart-breaking, 11-inning, 10-8 Red Sox loss, Baz went 5.1 innings, holding Boston to three runs on three hits (not all homers - he also walked three). 

Let's make it nine games in a row! Fuck it, let's make it three SWEEPS in a row!