The Red Sox kept their pulse on the AL East race Monday night, riding a 6-4 win over the Cleveland Guardians to within striking distance of the division title. Boston now sits 2½ games behind the first-place Blue Jays and tied with the idle Yankees for second place, the closest the club has been to the leaders since May 11.
With about four weeks left in the regular season and 23 games remaining, the primary goal remains within reach: win the division. Securing the division title would likely land Boston one of the top two records in the American League, a luxury that would provide a bye into the Division Series rather than facing a wild-card matchup. The Red Sox would then be able to rest and prepare while other teams settle the wild-card games, a notable advantage as Fenway Park has been a strong home venue this year, with the home team posting a 43-27 mark.
In the win over Cleveland, right-hander Brayan Bello worked five innings and allowed three runs, while Guardians lefty Parker Messick pitched 3⅔ innings and also gave up three runs. Bello’s day was the shortest start in three months, but he settled after a rocky second inning when Cleveland put three across, leaving his pitch count at 59 by the end of that frame. He recovered impressively, retiring 12 of the next 15 batters to push through five.
The toughest moment for Bello came in the fourth, when after two quick outs he faced Steven Kwan for the second time and Daniel Schneemann walked to bring up José Ramírez. Bello fell behind 2-0, but followed with a changeup down in the strike zone that produced a harmless fly to right to escape further damage.
Boston’s offense got off to a fast start against Messick, a 24-year-old making only his third major-league start. Roman Anthony opened the bottom of the first with a single, and Alex Bregman doubled off the Green Monster, scoring Anthony on the former’s hit and Romy González’s single added another run. The Sox tacked on a second-inning run on Trevor Story’s RBI single.
Carlos Narváez delivered a key pinch-hit, two-run single in the fifth to push Boston ahead. The game also featured a memorable sequence for Story, who appeared to have hit another homer when his fly ball to right field seemed to hit the glove of Jhonkensy Noel, briefly touch the Pesky Pole, and then fall back into Noel’s glove. The call initially appeared to be foul, but the Red Sox challenged successfully, and Story was credited with his 23rd homer of the year.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox’ path to division glory remains possible if they can keep pace with the leaders down the stretch. The combination of winning the division and earning a top-two seed would not only shorten their playoff workload but also give them extra time to rest arms and refine lineups for what would become a favorable postseason entry.
Summary: A late-season push is underway for Boston, with a crucial win keeping division dreams alive and providing a potential playoff-by-the-bye scenario. The team will need continued strong performances from its rotation and timely clutch hitting as they enter a critical stretch with 23 games left.
Additional notes and possible angles for coverage:
– The Fenway Park advantage continues to be a talking point, as home winning percentage could play a decisive role in tiebreakers and seeding.
– The bullpen’s role in supporting Bello and the rotation down the stretch will be critical; monitor how managers balance rest and effectiveness.
– The ongoing drama around near-homers (like Story’s controversial hit) highlights the importance of challenges in close games and the potential impact on momentum in tight races.
Overall, the Red Sox remain alive in the division race with a realistic shot at a bye, which would be a significant postseason boost. The coming weeks will determine whether this 2025 campaign becomes a strong late-season surge or a season defined by missed opportunities.