The Boston Red Sox had this one. Then Aroldis Chapman happened.
Monday night at Coors Field, the Sox carried a 2-1 lead into the bottom of the ninth. Chapman came in needing three outs. He got zero. Four straight Rockies hits later, Jake McCarthy launched a bases-clearing triple that sent the Denver crowd into a frenzy and Boston home with a 3-2 loss that stings more than most.
MLB posted the clip on X, captioning it simply: “Jake McCarthy clears the bases with a WALK-OFF TRIPLE 😱.” That about sums it up.
A bullpen night that turned ugly fast
The Red Sox got a solid start from their rotation and held Colorado in check for eight innings. But the ninth has been a problem area all season, and Chapman didn’t help that narrative. He couldn’t find the zone, and when he did throw strikes, the Rockies hit them hard. Single, single, single, then McCarthy unloaded. The ball landed in the gap, all three runners scored, and the game was over before Boston’s outfield even got the ball back to the infield.
Chapman’s velocity was still there, sitting around 99-100 mph. Location wasn’t. He left pitches over the plate, and Colorado made him pay. It’s the kind of outing that makes you wonder if the Red Sox need to rethink ninth-inning roles, especially with a guy who’s been as volatile as Chapman over the past few years.
The loss drops Boston to 40-35 on the season. Not a disaster, but not great either. And in a division where every win matters, giving away games like this one feels like a gut punch that could linger.
Rockies showing some fight
Give Colorado credit. They were down to their last three outs against a guy who’s closed games in the biggest moments. But Coors Field is a weird place, and the Rockies have a knack for late-inning magic at home. McCarthy’s triple was the biggest hit of his career so far, and it gave a young team a boost that could carry them through the next few weeks.
For the Red Sox, the questions start now. Chapman’s been unreliable in high-leverage spots all year, and the bullpen as a whole has blown leads at an alarming rate. Manager Alex Cora didn’t say much after the game beyond the usual platitudes about moving on, but you could feel the frustration in his voice.
This one’s going to stick with Boston for a while. A 2-1 lead against a team they should beat, handed away in four pitches. The kind of loss that makes a long season feel even longer.
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