The Sox have won 14 of their last 16 games, none more unlikely than Sunday, when they scored two runs in the ninth inning and another in the 10th. The 40-57 Mets are astonishingly bad, but this was a game the Sox wrestled away from them.
“A 9-0 road trip. You don’t see that very often,” said Connor Wong, whose sacrifice bunt in the 10th inning moved Masataka Yoshida to third. Anthony Seigler’s fly ball to left was just enough for Yoshida to score before Garrett Whitlock retired the side in order on 13 pitches.
Wong was correct. The only other 9-0 road trip in franchise history was in 1977, when Don Zimmer and Co. had a perfect swing through Anaheim, Seattle, and Oakland.
That team won 97 games and missed the postseason because only two teams per league qualified. Now it’s six, and the door is open.
“I’m so proud of them,” interim manager Chad Tracy said.
With Willson Contreras serving the fourth game of his five-game suspension, the Sox had two hits through eight scoreless innings on Sunday.
With one out and a runner on first, the game appeared over when Romy Gonzalez grounded to shortstop. But Francisco Lindor booted the ball, and there was no double play.
A rattled Devin Williams walked the next two hitters, forcing in a run. Jarren Duran popped to right, but the Mets had him played deep, and Carson Benge didn’t make the play as he rushed in.
“Just executed so well in the last two innings of that game,” Tracy said.
Now everybody scatters for four days, which doesn’t feel like good timing.
“I’m glad to be getting home for a few days, but you almost wish we were playing again tomorrow,” said Caleb Durbin, whose turnaround at the plate has helped fuel the comeback. “Our at-bats have been so much better. We’re seeing more pitches, putting the ball in play. Just making things happen.
“We win the close ones now. We’re making the other team make pitches.”
Tracy called a clubhouse meeting before the game to remind the players what was at stake when they returned.
His message?
“Let’s make sure we’re ready to go coming out of the break,” Tracy said. “Do what needs to be done over the break to physically and mentally not let it slip too far from your mind. Make sure we’re ready.”
There are 17 games to play before the Aug. 3 trade deadline, enough that the season could take another sudden turn. But the first 10 of those games are at home, starting with a doubleheader against the first-place Rays.
The needs are obvious. Even with their recent surge, the Sox are tied for the second-fewest runs in the league. They also have the fewest home runs.
When Roman Anthony returns from the injured list, assuming he does, you can’t count on him to provide power after so much time away. The same is true for Trevor Story.
As a former player, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow knows how it feels to expect the front office to hold up its end of the bargain and provide help when it’s deserved. He owes this group some help.
The Sox have pitched brilliantly to this point, but Payton Tolle was limited to 3⅔ innings and 66 pitches on Sunday to control his workload. He has pitched 84 innings this season. His career regular-season high of 108 came last season.
The same is true for Connelly Early, who is on the injured list with a sore elbow. He has given the Sox 91⅔ innings this season, only 28 fewer than his career high (119⅔) over three levels (including the Sox) in 2025.
Brayan Bello could provide an answer to that issue. He returned from Triple-A Worcester on Sunday and allowed one run over 4⅓ innings in relief of Tolle. He’s only pitched one game, but Patrick Sandoval is part of that equation, too.
“We’re fighting and it’s a lot of fun,” Seigler said. “To me, there was no doubt in the 10th inning that we could find a way to score. That’s how we’ve been handling our business.”
It’s a new season. Opening Day is Friday.
Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him on Bluesky at peteabeglobe.bsky.social.
