Red Sox Streak ENDS One Win Short of Historic Franchise Record

Liberty Check

• Boston’s 15-game winning streak tied an 80-year franchise record before falling one short of history
• Red Sox surged from last place and 8.4% playoff odds to 67% postseason probability in just three weeks
• Despite devastating injuries to key players, Boston’s resilience and clutch performance turned their season around

Just weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox were written off as one of baseball’s biggest disappointments. Despite a massive payroll loaded with stars and exciting prospects, injuries decimated their roster through the first half.

Entering July, Boston sat dead last in the American League East at 37-48. They owned the third-worst record in the entire American League, trailing first place by 14 games and looked destined to become sellers at the trade deadline.

As recently as June 21, their postseason chances stood at a dismal 8.4%. Then something remarkable happened.

Even without key players like Garrett Crochet, Trevor Story and Roman Anthony, the Red Sox entered Wednesday’s doubleheader against Baltimore riding an incredible 14-game winning streak. They extended it to 15 with a dominant performance in the day game, jumping out to a four-run lead they never surrendered.

The game ended fittingly on a spectacular defensive play by shortstop Tsung-Che Chung. That 15th consecutive victory tied a franchise record set 80 years ago and became just the eighth winning streak of 15 or more games since 1961—the first since the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021.

“You keep stacking one win over another, and then you get close, and once you get within three or four, they start to feel like playoff games because you want to get there,” infielder Caleb Durbin said this week.

“But yeah, then you look back at it, and think about where you’re doing it and how long this franchise has existed. It’s pretty incredible.”

Wednesday night’s second game provided a golden opportunity to set a new franchise record with 16 straight wins. Still at Fenway Park and facing a struggling Orioles squad, Boston seemed poised to make history.

But Baltimore turned the tables, scoring four runs in the top of the first inning. Jonathan Rodriguez’s double off the Green Monster helped chase Eduardo Rivera from the game before recording three outs.

The Red Sox offense went cold, managing just one run in a 5-1 defeat that ended their historic streak one win short of the record. Still, what an incredible achievement.

The streak didn’t just turn their season around—it upended the entire American League East and postseason races. Boston went from buried and seemingly eliminated before July to not losing a single game from July 1 through July 22.

Before the nightcap loss, Boston’s postseason probability had soared to 67% thanks to seizing sole possession of the third wild card spot in the AL. Remarkably, they moved to within six games of first place in the AL East—a stunning turnaround from their 14-game deficit just weeks earlier.

From potential sellers to aggressive buyers? Crochet hopes to return by the playoffs, but even with Ranger Suárez coming back soon, Boston could use more starting pitching.

Roman Anthony hasn’t started swinging yet after tearing a ligament in his finger, and Trevor Story remains weeks away from returning. Additional offensive help wouldn’t hurt either.

So how did they win 15 straight with so many key injuries? A combination of timely hitting, quality pitching and clutch performance when it mattered most.

Boston posted the best team ERA in baseball during July, and an impressive .877 OPS with runners in scoring position over the same stretch. That’s a formula for success.

Fifteen consecutive wins is remarkable under any circumstances, but especially with these devastating injuries. Red Sox fans can now dream of getting Anthony, Story and Suárez back for a playoff run—with Crochet looming if they make it.

Americans deserve teams that never quit.