A fast start was needed, and the Red Sox stumbled.
Finally, in their fourth series since the break, Boston won a series. The Red Sox defeated the Seattle Mariners 3-2 in extra innings, taking two of three from their A.L. West rivals.
Extra innings and blown leads have been a recurring theme in Boston's stretch since the Midsummer Classic. The Red Sox of lost 8 of 12 but easily could have reversed that record if not for a struggling bullpen.
The good news is plenty of games remain on the docket. Games against teams vying for the Wild Card, where Boston sits two games back of the final spot, and the A.L. East, where the Red Sox are seven games back.
Trade deadline help
In recent seasons, the Red Sox have mostly stood pat when it came to trade deadline decisions. For good reasons, too, because the team had a lot of young talent and were prepping to have sustained success in the future.
This season, however, with the team firmly in the playoff race, the time to act was now.
Relief pitching was the main target. Craig Breslow and the Red Sox responded with vigor.
In separate trades, Boston acquired help in relievers Lucas Sims and Luis García. Sims was acquired from the Reds and had a 3.57 ERA in 43 appearances. García came to Boston just under the trade deadline, arriving from the Angels with a 3.71 ERA in 45 appearances.
Both bring a veteran presence and should help solidify those later innings. Rest for overworked relievers will help, too, as the Red Sox have played four extra-inning games since the All-Star break.
Starting pitcher James Paxton also returned to the Red Sox after being designated for assignment by the Los Angeles Dodgers.
The other major trade for the Red was the acquisition of catcher Danny Jansen from the Toronto Blue Jays. I was a little perplexed at this move at first, considering Jansen and former backup Reese McGuire had similar numbers, with McGuire holding an edge behind the plate. This didn't seem like an upgrade at all, and I knew the team wouldn't keep three catchers on the roster.
Manager Alex Cora explained the move after McGuire was designated for assignment. And Jansen is 4 for 7 in two games with Boston, knocking in the tying run in the sixth inning of today's victory.
Upcoming schedule
Starting Friday (8/2), the Red Sox are on the road for six games before returning home for six.
Three games with the Texas Rangers start off this stretch and three more will bookend the 12 games. The two teams have not played yet in 2024 and it's the same with opponent the Red Sox face when they return home, the Houston Astros.
Boston took two of three from the Kansas City Royals just prior to the All-Star break and could use the same result again on the road.
A tough little stretch. The Rangers are lingering around the playoff hunt, though currently the only one of these three teams under .500. Kansas City is one of the teams ahead of the Red Sox in the Wild Card race. And Houston, despite best hopes of their early season struggles lasting the whole season, are fighting the Mariners for first place in the A.L. West.
Best hopes reside in the Red Sox going 7-5 or better in the upcoming couple of weeks. Do that, and playoff race will only heat up. Struggling through another 4-8 stretch, though, may dampen hopes. Let's keep those fingers crossed for the former and carry this productive season even further.
photo credit: Wikimedia Commons
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