For a franchise that is stuck in baseball's most demanding division, beset with injuries and led by an ownership group that unfailingly infuriates fans with ill-advised remarks, it is essential to find creative ways to win baseball games. That is doubly true when entering a six-game stretch against the two best teams in the MLB. In spite of those challenges, the Boston Red Sox just managed to reach the highest peak of their season.
And they did so by running up the mountain, rather than merely climbing it. The squad set the tone with their legs and played a sublime brand of small-ball that highlighted its athleticism and instincts in a 9-3 win against the New York Yankees (50-24).
Boston tormented catcher Jose Trevino and recorded a franchise-record nine stolen bases on Sunday, per Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY. Do not be confused by their 37-35 record. The Red Sox boast an alluring combination of versatility and grit.
David Hamilton led the way with four stolen bags, while All-Star candidate and fellow speedster Jarren Duran swiped two of his own and continued to make other heads-up baserunning plays that better position his team to win. Connor Wong notched a game-high three RBIs and extinguished New York's momentum with a seventh-inning triple. For the second night in a row, the Sox emphatically responded to a Yankees rally and put the game out of grasp.
That is what playoff-caliber squads do. Although there are several reasons to doubt Boston's staying power, many of which were listed in the opening paragraph, Alex Cora's guys are proving they can hang with top-tier competition on a given day, or even a week.
The speedy Red Sox are showing some fight
With this Sunday Night Baseball Triumph, the Red Sox secure back-to-back series victories against the Philadelphia Phillies (47-24) and Yankees, two ballclubs that many predict will duke it out this October for the championship. They have multiple players who could be fixtures for the years to come, capable pitching (sixth-best ERA in MLB), an experienced and World Series-winning manager and plenty of speed (lead American League with 69 stolen bases).
But are those attributes enough to outweigh the concerns? There are reasons to believe that Boston's lack of firepower will cause it to peter out in the second half of the season, just as it did in 2023. While this version of the Sox is more disciplined and dangerous, they likely need another piece or two in order to soar to the upper echelon of the AL.
This homestand offered the Fenway Faithful firm evidence that there is something cooking in the clubhouse. The Red Sox's talent might actually be able to match their infectious energy, which the injured Triston Casas effectively and incessantly showcased in an interview with the ESPN crew. Management must react accordingly, however.
Failure to maximize the team's promise will add further credence to fans' claims that the organization is doing far from everything possible to build a contender. The best way to prevent this narrative from growing to unsettling levels is for the Sox to apply pressure.
That can be done by following up this recent surge with a successful road trip. Boston battles the Toronto Blue Jays (35-36) Monday at approximately 7:07 p.m. ET.
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