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What a difference a few weeks can make.
The Boston Red Sox were headed to the bottom of the American League, seemingly destined to be sellers at the trade deadline. Pundits were already including starter Sonny Gray and relief ace Aroldis Chapman in mock trade proposals.
They then won 14 games in a row. They went from 37-48 to 51-48 and now have sole possession of the third wild card spot in the American League.
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Caleb Durbin celebrates after the Boston Red Sox defeated the Baltimore Orioles on Monday, July 20, 2026, in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP Photo)
It’s hard to imagine these Red Sox capturing the hearts of Boston fans after headlines like these were written in April: “The Boston Red Sox are a pathetic, disgusting, embarrassing 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, which was established in 1946 with Ted Williams at the helm. The Red Sox are trying not to think about what’s at stake.
“I’m trying not to do it, but I want it,” third baseman Caleb Durbin said of the chance to tie 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’re trying to play the same way every day… If it happens, it would be great for us. We can celebrate it. If it doesn’t happen, we have to move on.”
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Boston Red Sox fans applaud after an RBI double by Ceddanne Rafaela during the seventh inning of a game against the Baltimore Orioles, Monday, July 20, 2026, in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Durbin and Contreras played important roles in the team’s 6-5 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Monday night at Fenway Park.
With the Red Sox trailing 4-3 in the bottom of the sixth inning with a man on second base, Contreras defeated Orioles starter Shane Baz’s 86 mph knuckleball curveball off the Green Monster. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu ran home, tying the game 4-4.
The Orioles responded in the top of the seventh inning when outfielder Tyler O’Neill hit a fielder’s choice ground ball, allowing Taylor Ward to score and give Baltimore a 5-4 lead.
The Red Sox rallied in the bottom of the seventh inning when center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela singled through the left side of the infield with two outs, and shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng scored to tie the score at 5-5.
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Boston Red Sox’s Willson Contreras celebrates after his RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Durbin dealt the final blow to the Orioles in the eighth inning, hitting 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 elated as he rounded the bases.
“There aren’t many times you pass out, as they say,” Durbin said. “I think that was one of the moments where I didn’t know what was going on. I couldn’t tell you what I looked like running the bases.”
“I can’t imagine it being more electric than tonight,” Durbin said. “It could be. Tonight was amazing though.”
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Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu 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 home run.
“To be honest, it felt like the playoffs, going to the World Series,” he said. “I hope it happens. We are on the way, but there is a lot of season left, a lot of games to play.”
The Red Sox hope the good vibes continue into 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 names alongside the legendary Williams.
