The inside story of MLB's most notable promotion
Some instances suggest a season is worthy of paying attention to.
Twelve years ago, the Red Sox returned from a West Coast swing against the Giants and Dodgers, taking four of six games, and proceeded to beat a good Orioles team in two straight games. The second victory vs. Baltimore was a 4-3 win in which the Sox came back from a two-run deficit in the final three innings.
Then-manager John Farrell was quoted after the game as saying, "This is a group that knows how to play with the game situation that's in front of them. They love to compete and love to work on any given day. I think this is the 30th time we've come from behind to win, and it kind of shows the grit and character that's been with this team all year."
The winning pitcher for that Aug. 28, 2013 win? Craig Breslow.
Wednesday night, Breslow got another win. Same teams. Same vibes.
This victory over the Orioles came courtesy of Ceddanne Rafaela's game-winning two-run homer in the ninth inning, putting the Red Sox a season-high 14 games over .500. The image portrayed was almost identical to the one that elicited the analysis from Farrell 12 years before.
Playing with the game situation in front of them? Check.
Love to compete and love to work on any given day? Check.
Grit? Character? Check and check.
It has been four years since the Red Sox have been able to land in late August with this kind of feeling, having experienced the sudden surge of momentum for the final two weeks in August 2021, thanks in large part to the boost from Kyle Schwarber.
But the Augusts of 2022, 2023, and 2024? Not good. All well under .500. Even in that 2021 run to the playoffs, the Red Sox had to dig themselves out of a 6-11 start to the month, immediately winning six of eight once Schwarber was introduced.
This, however, in many ways feels like 2013.
It wasn't really until that West Coast trip followed by the wins over the O's that fans started truly buying into the bearded band of ballplayers. There was still too much skepticism carried over from a 69-win season the year before, along with the summer distractions that were a Bruins Stanley Cup run and then the Aaron Hernandez chaos.
But that Wednesday night at Fenway Park signaled the true beginning of the belief.
This time around, it feels like the same sort of launching pad.
Heading into the final game of an eight-game road trip against the Yankees and a team that just swept a two-game series at Fenway, the Orioles, the Red Sox have landed with six wins in the first seven games. They have managed the run with all forms and fashion of wins, including Wednesday's Rafaela-induced celebration.
If there is, however, one hat-hanging element of the equation, it is undoubtedly pitching. That was evident in the latest win over the Orioles, with Brayan Bello continuing to offer an ace-like aura by giving up one earned run over 6 1/3 innings.
During this road trip, the Red Sox' starting pitchers (which includes Brennan Bernardino's one-inning opening stint) have combined for a 2.33 ERA and .599 OPS against. The relievers have been even better, allowing runs in just two of the games (one was Bernardino's start), totaling a 1.93 ERA with opponents managing just a .593 OPS.
The relievers have also struck out 29 batters while walking seven. They have also allowed just one of their six inherited runners to score.
And now, on top of it all, they are punctuating the trip with perhaps the best pitcher in baseball, Garrett Crochet.
Much like 2013, the Red Sox have earned this Aug. 28 conversation.