The Boston Red Sox are on an all-time heater. After starting 32-46, they have won 31 of their last 36 games to climb within half a game of the second-place Yankees, and a comfortable 6.5 game lead for the second Wild Card spot.
But of those 31 games – which include their current eight-game winning streak – none was crazier or more topsy-turvy, or more unexpected, or more record-breaking, than last night’s tilt with the upstart Chicago White Sox.
Boston fell behind 2-0 in the third inning when Chase Meidroth hit the first of his two homers on the night. By the time the BoSox came to bat in the bottom of the third, they trailed 4-0. A Connor Wong two-run home run cut the lead in half.
The White Sox tacked on another run in the fourth inning, only to see the Red Sox score three in the bottom half to tie the game at five.
Chicago answered right back with two runs in the top of the fifth; and Boston again cut the lead in half with a single run in the sixth. That 7-6 score held until the bottom of the ninth. Wilyer Abreu, down to his last strike with two outs, singled home pinch-runner Eli White to tie the game.
Meidroth hit his second dinger with one on and one out in the tenth to give the ChiSox a 9-7 lead. Boston scratched out two runs in the bottom half to keep the game going.
Chicago scored a single run in the top of the 11th, and Boston responded with a run of their own in the bottom half. They sang the same verse in the 12th inning. However, it took a great throw from left fielder Jarren Duran to cut down Braden Montgomery at the plate to keep the score square*.
*Duran made up for his fly out with the bases loaded to end the 11th inning.
In the 13th, Brayan Bello, working his second inning out the bullpen, was able to retire the side in order and keep the White Sox off the board for the first time in extras. Caleb Durbin, continuing his bounceback, ended the affair with his third hit of the night, a one-out single up the middle that brought home Nick Sogard, much to the delight of the 37,000 in attendance (most of whom stayed for the nearly four-and-a-half-hour contest).
How and why was this game so crazy? According to OptaStats, the Red Sox are the only team in the modern era to score in five separate innings in the ninth inning or later. They trailed five different times in the game.
With the win, the Red Sox swept the season series with the White Sox for the first time in their storied history. And in doing so, according to MLB.com’s Sarah Langs, the Red Sox became the first team since 1969 to have six series sweeps against teams that entered the series in first place in their respective division.
After the game, Durbin the hero said, “We didn’t think anything of it. We’re just gonna fight.” He went on to say, “It’s just special right now. It’s a fun group to be a part of.”
One should say so. The Red Sox have turned their season around with a run unlike many others in the history of the game, and will look to stay hot as the Athletics come to Fenway Park for the weekend.