The Boston Red Sox completed a three-game sweep against the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 8-4 victory on Sunday. This win marked the Red Sox’s eighth consecutive series victory and concluded a 6-1 West Coast road trip. The team has now won 15 of its last 16 road games, dating back to early July, and boasts a 28-5 overall record since June 25.
Four Red Sox players contributed home runs in Sunday’s game, with three occurring in the third inning. Ceddanne Rafaela continued his strong performance, hitting his fourth home run in three games. Rookie pitcher Jake Bennett secured the win, allowing three runs over 5 2/3 innings.
Offensive Outburst and Pitching Performance
The Red Sox started strong, scoring first for the third consecutive game. In the top of the first inning, Masataka Yoshida and Caleb Durbin hit back-to-back RBI singles, giving Boston a 2-0 lead against Dodgers starter Emmet Sheehan. The Dodgers responded in the bottom of the second, scoring three runs to take a 3-2 lead, with Eliezer Alfonso contributing an RBI groundout and Andy Pages hitting a two-run single.
Boston quickly regained the lead in the third inning. Rafaela led off with a solo home run to tie the game, followed by a home run from Wilyer Abreu on the next pitch. Yoshida then hit the third home run of the inning, making the score 5-3 in favor of the Red Sox. Sheehan’s outing concluded after he allowed five runs on six hits and a walk over 2 2/3 innings.
Bennett navigated a challenging second inning, allowing three runs but preventing further damage. He then settled in, retiring 10 consecutive Dodgers batters. He finished his outing with six hits allowed, one intentional walk, and four strikeouts. Jarren Duran added Boston’s fourth home run of the game in the sixth inning, extending the lead. The Red Sox further solidified their lead in the eighth inning when Durbin scored on a wild pitch and Andruw Monasterio scored on a passed ball.
Dodgers Acquire Tarik Skubal Amidst Series Loss
The Dodgers’ series loss to the Red Sox came shortly after the team acquired two-time Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers. Skubal, who arrived at Dodger Stadium on Sunday, is expected to make his Dodgers debut on Tuesday against the Chicago Cubs. The trade involved sending Dodgers prospects Zyhir Hope, River Ryan, and Brady Smith to the Tigers.
In Saturday’s game, the Dodgers fell 3-2 to the Red Sox, with Rafaela hitting two home runs against Dodgers right-hander Yoshinobu Yamamoto. Yamamoto allowed three runs and four hits over eight innings, but Rafaela’s home runs accounted for most of Boston’s scoring. The Dodgers struggled to capitalize on scoring opportunities, leaving seven runners stranded and going 0 for 4 with runners in scoring position.
The Dodgers also made bullpen adjustments before Sunday’s game. Reliever Will Klein was placed on the 15-day injured list due to discomfort in his right elbow. Klein had a 2.29 ERA earlier in July but had surrendered 13 runs, including eight earned runs, in his last six appearances. Brock Stewart, another right-handed reliever, was also placed on the injured list with tendinitis in his right shoulder. To fill these roster spots, the Dodgers recalled right-handed relievers Kyle Hurt and Wyatt Mills. The team also designated left-hander Cole Irvin for assignment on Saturday after he yielded six runs in a recent appearance.
The Red Sox will now have an off day on Monday before returning home for their next game on Tuesday.
Source: bostonherald.com
Mason Reed
Sports reporter covering football, basketball and international competitions.