The Boston Red Sox just swept a four-game series against the team sitting in first place of the AL East. That’ll change how people talk about this club.
After dropping the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Sunday, Boston has now won 13 straight games. That’s not a hot streak. That’s a statement. And for the first time this season, players are starting to say the quiet part out loud about chasing down the division lead.
Infielder Caleb Durbin drove in a run during Sunday’s win, but it was his postgame comments that grabbed attention. When asked if the division crown actually feels achievable now, Durbin didn’t hedge.
“It’s starting to feel like that. It’s definitely feeling like that,” Durbin told Alex Speier of The Boston Globe. “To be able to get within six games against the team that’s in first place definitely feels good. … We’re just trying to get that number as small as possible until we’re able to get back into it.”
Six games back with more than half the season to go is not a gimme. But it’s not a fantasy either. The Red Sox entered the All-Star break on a nine-game win streak and haven’t slowed down since. Sunday’s win completed a four-game sweep of the Rays, which pulled Boston within striking distance of the AL East lead for the first time in months.
Sweeping the Rays changes the math
Sonny Gray dealt on the mound Sunday, going six strong innings with five strikeouts and just five hits allowed. That kind of pitching has been a theme during this run. The Red Sox are getting consistent starts and enough timely hitting to make it count.
The sweep of Tampa Bay wasn’t just about the standings. It sent a message to the rest of the division that Boston isn’t just hanging around for a wild card anymore. They’re looking up at the Rays, sure. But they’re close enough to make that uncomfortable.
What’s next for the Red Sox
Boston holds the final AL Wild Card spot as of now, but the division is the real target if this keeps up. They’ve got a nine-game homestand rolling, and it starts Monday with a three-game set against another AL East rival, the Baltimore Orioles.
The Orioles are no pushover, but this version of the Red Sox looks different than the one that stumbled through April and May. They’re confident, they’re executing, and they’re not afraid to admit what they’re chasing.
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