BOSTON — On a night when both Detroit and Seattle were idle and Minnesota and Kansas City lost, the Boston Red Sox pulled off one of their biggest wins of the second half to keep their flickering playoff hopes alive.
After failing to sweep the lowly Chicago White Sox, the Red Sox bounced back convincingly with a commanding 12-3 win over the Orioles.
Advertisement
The Red Sox now sit three games back of the third wild-card spot in the American League, tied with Seattle and Detroit.
Rob Refsnyder and Tyler O’Neill hit back-to-back homers in two separate innings and Rafael Devers broke out with a three-hit night as the Red Sox’s offense put on a show.
“We’re right there, I don’t know how,” manager Alex Cora said of the wild-card race. “They show up every day. They work hard, and they did an amazing job offensively today.”
Rob is RAKING! pic.twitter.com/xmgkRnuSCk
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 10, 2024
The Red Sox had struggled mightily on offense the last few weeks and hadn’t scored more than seven runs in a game since Aug. 16 in Baltimore. Meanwhile, their 12-run outburst marked their most runs scored at home since July 29.
“I think the at-bats are getting better,” Cora said. “We can hit into a streak like we did in the summer and we put ourselves in a good spot. So just keep putting good at-bats.”
The Orioles have undoubtedly struggled of late, going 6-7 over the last two weeks, and the Red Sox took full advantage.
The early innings were a cat-and-mouse game before the Red Sox turned it into a blowout late. The Orioles pounced on Red Sox starter Brayan Bello in the first, but managed just one run, as Bello left the bases loaded by striking out back-to-back batters.
The Red Sox responded quickly, pushing across a run to tie it in the bottom of the first as Devers singled, Refsnyder doubled and O’Neill grounded out to score Devers.
Two innings later, Devers hit another single, amid a 3-for-5 night, before Refsnyder slammed a two-run homer for the lead and O’Neill made it two in a row with a towering solo shot over the Monster, making it 4-1.
Keep ’em coming! 👏 pic.twitter.com/e3RlbZoePE
— Red Sox (@RedSox) September 10, 2024
Bello had a strange outing, tying a career-high with five walks, including one with the bases loaded to drive in the Orioles’ second run.
But he bounced back with a nine-pitch fifth inning and recorded the first out of the sixth before turning the ball over to Brennan Bernardino, who got the next two outs.
Advertisement
Then the Red Sox opened the floodgates.
Ceddanne Rafaela added a two-run single with the bases loaded in the sixth before Devers beat out an infield single and Refsnyder drove in two more runs with a single to center, making it 8-2.
Rafaela drove in two more with a double in the seventh before Refsndyer and O’Neill hit back-to-back homers for the second time in the eighth.
“It felt good against a really, really good team,” said Refsnyder, who went 4-for-4 with a career-high five RBIs. “The Orioles are so balanced and can beat you a bunch of different ways, so it felt good to be able to beat a team like that.
“Unfortunately, the offense has stalled, past couple weeks,” Refsnyder added. “Hopefully tonight we can kind of build off that and build some confidence.”
Devers easily had his best night in several weeks, collecting three hits for the first time since July 31. O’Neill has gone 9-for-20 (.450) over the past week.
With the lefty on the mound for the Orioles, Cora opted to sit Triston Casas, who’s been struggling since putting together a few productive games when he first returned from the injured list. Connor Wong played first base in Casas’ place and made a handful of nice plays.
“We’ve been doing a better job against lefties,” Cora said. “We did it against (White Sox starter Garrett) Crochet the other day. Today, that was good. Maybe this is the way we play the rest of the season, kind of like platoon the rest of the way, and try to maximize the roster. Be aggressive with pinch hitters and all that and see where it takes us.”
It’s no secret the Red Sox have not played well in the second half. They’re now 20-28 since the All-Star break following Monday’s win.
But a wild-card spot is still within reach because the teams around them are scuffling, particularly the Twins, who are 17-19 since Aug. 1.
Advertisement
With that in mind, the Red Sox haven’t given up yet.
“Couple games back but I think we’re in a good position,” O’Neill said. “It’s all about momentum this time of year. Feels like things are coming together. Pitching has been looking a lot better. A big game like this for the offense is good just for everybody. So, you know, anything can happen over the last couple weeks. And that’s what it’s all about, playing meaningful baseball in September and hopefully into October. We’ll see where it goes.”
(Photo of O’Neill connecting on a home run: David Butler II / Imagn Images)
