Red Sox 6, Orioles 3

They did it! Those magnificent bastards actually did it! Today, in the first half of a double-header (last night's game got rained out) those amazing, never-say-die Boston Red Sox have won their 15th consecutive game, tying a franchise record that goes all the way back to 1946, when Harry S. Truman was President. The 2026 Red Sox tied a team record that was set by the legendary players Ted Williams, Johnny Pesky, Dom DiMaggio, and Bobby Doerr.  

Just one month ago, Boston was one of the worst teams in major-league baseball. Now they're the hottest team in either league. The last five wins were in Fenway Park, but prior to this streak, they were a dismal 17-27 at home. How things have changed! 

I'm going to keep posting these trophy pictures as long as they keep winning. It's not superstitious if it works. 

Since July 3, the Sox have swept the Angels, the White Sox, the Mets, and the Rays, and now they're one very significant win away from sweeping the Orioles, too. 

There was never any doubt about this win. The Sox jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first inning on a two-RBI Caleb Durbin single and a two-RBI triple by Jarren Duran. Duran added another RBI with a sac fly in the third, and Ceddanne Rafaela hit a solo home run in the fourth. Big Jake Bennet went 5⅔ innings with four K's and three earned runs, and the bullpen of Slaten, Whitlock and Chapman shut out the O's for 3⅓ innings.

To add an almost cinematic drama to the final innings, storm clouds were creeping up on Fenway in the last two innings, threatening to cut off the game after last night's rainout. The storm held off just long enough to finish, but the rain started before the post-game interviews were over. The front is forecast to pass over before the start of tonight's second game of the DH. 

And if you needed any more proof of the existence of God, the Yankees lost the first game of their double header today. Both teams play again tonight, but right now the Red Sox trail the Yankees by only 3½ games. Yankees suck.

Tonight, Boston plays for destiny. The Sox were thinking about starting Ranger Suarez, fresh off the IL, in this DH but announced that instead rookie Eduardo Rivera (0-0, 2.89) will start tonight. Rivera has only played in three MLB games, but two of those games were during this current 15-game streak. 

Baltimore will start Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61). In Brandish's last start against Boston, Contreras hit a two-run homer and the Sox combined for three runs on four hits before knocking him out of the game after five innings in a 5-3 Boston win and Chad Tracy's debut as interim manager.  

Fifteen consecutive wins. Fifteen (15!). Tonight, the Sox have their eyes on history, and will try to go from a Taylor Swiftian Fifteen to Sweet Sixteen. Whatever the outcome, tonight will be historic.