Red Sox Match Franchise Record With 15th Consecutive Win Against Orioles

Boston’s current run represents the first time a Major League Baseball team has won 15 or more straight games since the 2021 St. Louis Cardinals, who recorded a 17-game winning streak from Sept. 11-28 of that year. The Red Sox, now 52-48 on the season, have turned their campaign around significantly. The team has won 20 of its past 22 games, moving from 14 games under .500 at 32-46 to four games over .500. Additionally, the club is currently 6-0 on its homestand after previously struggling with a 17-27 record at Fenway Park during the first half of the season.

Game 1 Performance Against the Orioles

The Red Sox established control early in the opening game. Facing Orioles right-handed starter Dean Kremer, Boston plated four runs in the first inning. The rally began after singles by Masataka Yoshida, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Willson Contreras loaded the bases, setting the stage for Caleb Durbin to hit a two-run single. Jarren Duran followed with a two-out, two-run triple. Durbin, who had previously hit a tiebreaking home run during the team’s 14th straight win on Monday, continued his offensive contributions alongside Duran, who later knocked in Boston’s fifth run with a 344-foot sacrifice fly to center field in the third inning.

Baltimore managed to cut the deficit to 4-1 in the top of the third inning when Ceddanne Rafaela lost a ball in the sun, allowing Tyler O’Neill to be credited with an RBI double. Christian Encarnacion-Strand later hit a solo home run into the batter’s eye in the fourth inning to make it 5-2. However, Rafaela responded in the bottom half of the inning with a 377-foot solo home run over the Green Monster, marking his ninth home run of the season. Kremer lasted six innings, allowing six runs in the loss.

Pitching Resilience and Bullpen Depth

Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett earned the win, improving to 6-3 on the season. Bennett pitched 5 ⅔ innings, allowing three runs on nine hits with no walks while striking out four. He recorded 14 swings and misses, including seven whiffs with his changeup, two each with his four-seam fastball, cutter, and sweeper, and one with his sinker. Overall, Bennett threw 83 pitches, 64 of which were strikes.

The outing was physically demanding; Bennett was struck in the stomach by a 102.8 mph line drive from Taylor Ward in the fifth inning. He remained in the game after being checked by a trainer, Chad Tracy, and Willson Contreras, who appeared to make him breathe while telling him to lift his arms. Following Bennett’s departure, Justin Slaten recorded the final out of the sixth inning, Garrett Whitlock pitched a scoreless eighth, and Aroldis Chapman recorded his 23rd save of the season with a scoreless ninth. Chapman’s save was the 390th of his career, tying him with Dennis Eckersley for ninth all-time. The Red Sox bullpen has been a major factor during the streak, posting a 7-0 record with a 1.08 ERA and nine saves over 58 ⅓ innings.

Next Steps

Chad Tracy’s team will attempt to set a new franchise record of 16 straight wins in the second game of the doubleheader, scheduled for 7:10 p.m. The Orioles have named right-hander Kyle Bradish (6-9, 3.61 ERA) as their starter for the nightcap. The Red Sox have not yet named their starter, though Ranger Suárez (4-3, 3.15 ERA) could potentially return from the injured list, or the team may opt for a bullpen game.