BALTIMORE — The Red Sox rode a late surge to a 3-2 comeback win over the Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards, completing a four-game sweep. Here are the standout moments and what they mean:
Ceddanne Rafaela’s redemption and late heroics
Rafaela delivered a go-ahead two-run homer in the ninth, giving Boston a 3-2 lead after a seventh-inning miscue had Baltimore on top 2-1. It marked Rafaela’s third go-ahead or game-winning homer of the season in the ninth inning or later, tying him with Nick Kurz (Athletics), Shohei Ohtani (Dodgers) and William Contreras (Brewers) for the most such homers this year.
Seventh-inning miscue that fueled Baltimore’s rally
A miscommunication on the warning track between Rafaela and left fielder Jarren Duran allowed Dylan Carlson’s 366-foot fly to drop, and Dylan Beavers sprinted home from first to put the Orioles ahead 2-1 with two outs in the seventh. Rafaela’s catch probability was 85% while Duran’s was 95%, underscoring how close the play was and how a routine moment can shift momentum.
Standings, series result, and upcoming game
The win improved Boston to 74-60, while Baltimore fell to 60-73. The Red Sox won the four-game set 3-0, with the finale slated for 1:05 p.m. Thursday.
Bello solid on the mound, and a costly seventh
Brayan Bello gave Boston 6 2/3 innings of solid work, allowing two runs (one earned) on five hits with one walk and six strikeouts. His ERA dropped to 2.99. The only blemish that lingered was the seventh-inning walk issued to Dylan Beavers with two outs and nobody on base, which Beavers converted into the go-ahead run.
David Hamilton continues to contribute on offense
In the eighth, Hamilton lined a single to right to fire up the bases with no outs, keeping the pressure on Baltimore. He’s 8-for-18 on the road trip, with a homer, a double, a triple and two walks.
Roman Anthony, another leadoff homer and growing presence
Anthony added another leadoff homer on Wednesday, this time off Orioles opener Dietrich Enns, a lefty. The 21-year-old left-handed hitter connected on a 95.2 mph fastball and launched it 416 feet to center field. He previously became the youngest Red Sox ever to lead off a game with a homer on Monday.
Manager’s take on Anthony
Before the game, manager Alex Cora commented on Anthony’s growing personality, calling him “a cool kid” who’s opened up a bit more. “Sarcasm comes into play with him, which is awesome. We like it. We were joking that we unlocked the real Roman after he signed the big contract,” Cora said, highlighting Anthony’s new comfort level and confidence.
Chapman closes it out
Aroldis Chapman notched his 26th save, and he’s been stingy at the plate, not allowing a hit in his last 41 batters faced.
Close call in the eighth
Boston had a prime chance to tie or take the lead in the eighth with runners at the corners and no outs, but Baltimore left-hander Keegan Akin entered and retired Roman Anthony and Alex Bregman before Trevor Story grounded into a force-out to end the threat.
Series finale and roster moves
The Red Sox will wrap the set Thursday at 1:05 p.m. with Garrett Crochet (14-5, 2.38 ERA) taking the mound for Boston against Baltimore’s Cade Povich (2-7, 5.13 ERA).
Injuries to watch
Both outfielder Rob Refsnyder (left oblique strain) and reliever Justin Slaten (shoulder) are expected to be activated from the injured list for the series finale.
Commentary and takeaway
Boston’s resilience was on full display, with Rafaela delivering when it mattered most and Anthony continuing to establish himself as a spark plug at the top of the lineup. The bullpen and closer Chapman continued to provide stability late, helping the Red Sox capitalize on timely hits and mistakes by Baltimore. If Boston can maintain this level of late-inning bite and continued contributions from young players like Anthony and Rafaela, they’ll carry positive momentum into a critical stretch run.
Summary
The Red Sox erased an early deficit with a ninth-inning rally, highlighted by Rafaela’s go-ahead homer, while Bello held the fort earlier and Anthony continued to show promise as a leadoff threat. With a series sweep in the books, Boston heads to Thursday’s finale with a chance to build even more momentum.