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What a difference a few weeks can make.
The Boston Red Sox were headed to the basement of the American League, seemingly destined to be sellers at the trade deadline. Pundits already included starter Sonny Gray and relief ace Aroldis Chapman in mock trade proposals.
Then they won 14 games in a row. They went from 37-48 to 51-48 and now hold sole possession of the third Wild Card spot in the American League.
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Caleb Durbin celebrates after the Boston Red Sox’s loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, July 20, 2026, in Boston. (Photo Charles Krupa/AP)
It’s hard to imagine these Red Sox winning the hearts of Boston fans after headlines like these were written in April: “The Boston Red Sox are a pathetic, disgusting and shameful baseball team.”
But here they are, just one more win away from tying the team’s longest winning streak in franchise history, at 15 games, established in 1946 with Ted Williams leading the way. The Red Sox try not to think about the issues.
“I try not to, but I want to,” third baseman Caleb Durbin said of the possibility of tying the club record. “I can’t speak for anyone else. We haven’t really talked about it, but I want to make history here.”
“It would mean a lot, for sure,” first baseman Willson Contreras said. “We try to play the same way every day. … If it happens, that would be great for us. We can celebrate that. If it doesn’t happen, you have to keep going.”
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Boston Red Sox fans applaud after an RBI double by Ceddanne Rafaela in the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Both Durbin and Contreras played major roles in the team’s 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night at Fenway Park.
With the Red Sox leading 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning with a man on second base, Contreras hit Orioles starter Shane Baz’s 86 mph knuckle curve to the Green Monster. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu came home, tying the game at 4-4.
The Orioles responded in the top of the seventh inning when outfielder Tyler O’Neill hit a fielder’s choice, allowing Taylor Ward to score and giving Baltimore a 5-4 lead.
The Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning when center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela singled to the left side of the infield with two outs, and shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng scored to tie the game at 5-5.
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Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after his RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Durbin delivered the final blow to the Orioles in the eighth inning, hammering Tyler Wells’ 91 mph cutter 364 feet over the Green Monster and sending the Fenway Faithful into a frenzy.
The Red Sox third baseman was euphoric as he rounded the bases.
“There aren’t many moments where you pass out – as they say,” Durbin said. “I think it was one of the times where I didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t tell you what I looked like running around the bases.”
“I can’t imagine it being more electric than tonight,” Durbin said. “That might be the case. But tonight was great.”
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Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after his RBI double in the third inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Contreras was one of the first players to jump over the railing onto the field after Durbin’s homer.
“I felt like I was in the playoffs, going to the World Series, to be honest,” he said. “I hope that happens. We’re on track, but there’s a lot of season left, a lot of games to play.”
The Red Sox hope the good vibes continue on Tuesday, when they face the Orioles (49-52) in the second game of a three-game series at 7:10 p.m. ET, and look to etch their name alongside the legendary Williams.
