A's 4, Red Sox 3

 

For the first time in ten sets, the Red Sox failed to win the series. They suffered back-to-back losses for the first time since July 1. Doesn't mean a thing - they're still going to the World Series and they're still winning the damn thing.

Some so-called "fans," wagon-hoppers who only started following the team during the 15-game win streak, don't understand how baseball words. The Milwaukee Brewers, the team with the best record, 74-44 (.627), in baseball right now, have lost three of their last ten games. They lost back-to-back games in Fenway this season, suffered a five-game losing streak, and got swept in Pittsburgh last month. Losses happen. The mighty Boston Red Sox are 8-2 (.800) in their last 10 games, and 27-5 (.844) since the last time they suffered a second consecutive loss back on July 2. They lost yesterday afternoon, 4-3. So what? Get over it. 

Yesterday, White, Sogard, and Abreu all had RBIs. Brayan Bello came on in the second and pitched four innings of "relief," striking out four and giving up one run on three hits. The Sox had a 3-2 lead through seven innings and entered the ninth tied, 3-3, but Chapman blew the save with an RBI double and took the loss. Boston ends their home stand with a 4-2 record.

The Red Sox are 64-53 on the season, seven back from Tampa Bay and 1½ back from second-place New York (who lost in extra innings to the Atlanta Braves last night). They're 5½ up in the Wild Card standings. Like a lot of teams in a lot of different sports, they tend to play well against quality opponents and poorly against lesser competitors.  

Overall, despite the streak, they're still only 29-31 at home. So it's off to Canada to play four against the Toronto Blue Jays (56-53). Tonight, Boston ace Sonny Gray (14-2, 2.78) takes the mound against Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.96). The veteran Taillon, recently acquired by the Jays from the Cubs, hasn't faced the Red Sox since 2022, when he was with the Yankees (NY won the game in the tenth inning).   

Gray is 0-1 against Toronto in two starts this season. The last time he faced the Jay's, Toronto's Dylan Cease pitched a complete-game masterpiece, a one-hit shutout with 12 strikeouts, while Gray had an off night (three Ks with five runs, including one HR). Back in June, he went seven innings against the Jays with four Ks and three runs, two on homers, but Chapman blew the save and took the loss (sound familiar?). So Gray's overdue for a win against Toronto.

First pitch is at 7:07.