The Boston Red Sox's remarkable 15-game winning streak, tying an 80-year-old franchise record, came to an end on Wednesday with a 5-1 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in the second game of a double-header. The Red Sox had earlier defeated the Orioles 6-3 at Fenway Park, matching the record set in 1946 by a team led by Hall of Famer Ted Williams.
In the opening game, postponed from Tuesday due to rain, Boston took an early 4-0 lead in the first inning, with contributions from Caleb Durbin and Jarren Duran. Duran added a sacrifice fly in the third, and Ceddanne Rafaela hit his ninth home run of the season in the fourth. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy praised his team, noting they had 'accomplished something great' by matching the 1946 team and achieving the longest MLB winning streak since the St. Louis Cardinals' 17-game run in 2021.
However, the Orioles turned the tables in the nightcap, jumping to a 4-0 lead in the first inning against Red Sox starting pitcher Eduardo Rivera. Baltimore's strong start proved too much for Boston to overcome, marking their first defeat since a 10-2 home loss to Washington on July 1.
The streak represents a stunning turnaround for the Red Sox, who were struggling at 32-46 on June 24 but are now eyeing a playoff berth as they approach the trade deadline. 'Not only did we have a run of 15 wins, we found out who we are -- and we're a good baseball team,' Tracy said.
Despite the loss, the Red Sox's recent performance has reignited hopes for a deep postseason run, showcasing their resilience and potential as they continue their campaign.
