Games 100 and 101: Red Sox look to keep streak alive in doubleheader with Orioles - The Boston Globe
The Boston Red Sox are set to play a split-admission doubleheader today against the Baltimore Orioles, with the team looking to extend its impressive winning streak. Following a rainout on Tuesday, the two games are scheduled for 1:35 p.m. and 7:10 p.m. Tickets for Tuesday’s postponed game will be valid for the afternoon contest.
The Red Sox enter the doubleheader with a 14-game winning streak, which is the longest in Major League Baseball this season. This streak is also the longest in the majors since the Brewers achieved 14 consecutive wins last August. The team is now on the verge of tying a franchise record of 15 consecutive wins, a mark last set by the 1946 Red Sox.
In the opener, left-hander Jake Bennett (5-3, 2.35 ERA) will start for the Red Sox. Bennett has not previously faced any batters from the Orioles. The Orioles will counter with right-hander Dean Kremer (1-2, 4.15 ERA). Kremer has a career record of 3-4 with a 5.04 ERA in 10 starts against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox lineup for Game 1 includes Masataka Yoshida (DH), Ceddanne Rafaela (CF), Wilyer Abreu (RF), Willson Contreras (1B), Caleb Durbin (3B), Luis Gonzalez (2B), Jarren Duran (LF), Connor Wong (C), and Tsung-Che Cheng (SS). Orioles batters who have faced Kremer include Wilyer Abreu (1-8), Willson Contreras (2-3), Jarren Duran (5-11), Caleb Durbin (1-2), Andruw Monasterio (0-6), Carlos Narváez (2-2), Ceddanne Rafaela (1-8), Connor Wong (0-6), and Masataka Yoshida (5-10).
For the second game, the Red Sox have not yet announced a starting pitcher. Interim manager Chad Tracy mentioned that activating Ranger Suarez is a possibility, depending on how he feels today. Otherwise, the team might opt for a bullpen game, with Eduardo Rivera potentially serving as the opener. The Orioles plan to start right-hander Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) in the night game. Bradish holds a career record of 1-6 with a 6.75 ERA in 10 starts against the Red Sox.
The Red Sox have been in strong form, posting a 19-2 record or better over a 21-game span this season, with a plus 53 run differential. Their relievers lead MLB in ERA (3.09) and rank second in WHIP (1.17), just behind the Braves. The team also boasts a 47-1 record (.979) when leading after seven innings, a statistic tied with the Rays for the best in MLB.
The current winning streak has significantly altered the team’s standing. On July 1, the Red Sox were 37-48 and in last place in the AL East, 14 games behind the Tampa Bay Rays. They also had the third-worst record in the American League for wild-card purposes, trailing only the Los Angeles Angels (36-51) and Kansas City Royals (35-52). This turnaround has generated considerable interest in the team’s performance.
The 1946 Red Sox, who set the 15-game winning streak record, featured notable players such as Ted Williams, Bobby Doerr, Johnny Pesky, and Dominic DiMaggio. That team’s streak occurred between April 25 and May 10 of that year. While the current team is distinct from the 1946 squad, the potential to tie this historic record adds to the significance of today’s games.
The Red Sox’s recent success has been described as delivering hope, transforming what was initially a challenging season into a compelling watch for baseball fans. After today’s doubleheader, the Red Sox will have a day off on Thursday before hosting the Blue Jays for a three-game series beginning on Friday.
Red Sox’s Recent Performance and Lineup Details
The Red Sox’s impressive run includes a recent 6-5 victory over the Orioles on Monday night at Fenway Park. In that game, Tsung-Che Cheng made a game-ending out on Tyler O’Neill’s line drive, securing the win and extending Boston’s streak to 14 games while ending Baltimore’s at seven. This victory highlighted the team’s ability to perform in tense, back-and-forth contests.
The Orioles’ lineup for today’s games includes Ward (LF), Alonso (1B), Henderson (SS), O’Neill (RF), Mayo (DH), Taveras (CF), Encarnacion-Strand (3B), Holliday (2B), and Huff (C). This lineup will face the Red Sox pitching staff, including Jake Bennett in Game 1 and the yet-to-be-determined starter in Game 2.
The Red Sox batters have had varying degrees of success against the Orioles’ scheduled starters. Against Dean Kremer, Jarren Duran has performed well, going 5-11. Against Kyle Bradish, Jarren Duran has gone 2-11, while Connor Wong has gone 2-5. These individual matchups could play a role in the outcome of the doubleheader.
The atmosphere surrounding the Red Sox has shifted dramatically due to their winning streak. What was once a season where many fans anticipated the team moving into a selling mode, has now become a period of excitement and renewed optimism. The team’s chief baseball officer, Craig Breslow, has overseen this period of strong performance.
The Red Sox’s performance has also drawn comparisons to historical sentiments within baseball. In 1946, a column by Harold Kaese suggested that a Red Sox pennant win would be good for baseball, citing admiration for owner Tom Yawkey, sympathy for manager Joe Cronin, and veneration for Ted Williams. While the context of the 21st-century Red Sox, with multiple World Series championships, is different, the current streak is generating significant buzz.
The doubleheader provides an opportunity for the Red Sox to continue their remarkable run and potentially etch their names into the franchise’s history books by tying the 15-game winning streak record.
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Source: bostonglobe.com
