As the legend of the 2026 Boston Red Sox builds, tonight another chapter in the incredible story was etched with a memorable victory over the Miami Marlins. The Sox struck first with a second inning home run off Miami starter Tyler Phillips. Sox starter Payton Tolle was superb through four innings but allowed a 5th inning run to tie it up. Gasper launched his second home run of the game in the top of the sixth but the Marlins knocked Tolle out with a run in the bottom of the sixth. Plunged into extra innings, the Sox took the lead in the top of the tenth when Connor Wong scored on a passed ball....only for Wong to allow a passed ball to score Brian Navarreto to tie the game in the bottom of the frame. Then with the bases loaded in the top of the eleventj, the much maligned Jarren Duran smashed a grand slam to put the Sox ahead. Alec Gamboa (1-0, 1.31 ERA) shut the door in the bottom half and the Sox had beaten the Marlins 7-3 in 11 innings.
Phillips got the ball to start the top of the first inning and Nick Sogard took strike three to start. Ceddanne Rafaela struck out swinging and Wilyer Abreu also took strike three to end the inning. Tolle got the ball in the bottom of the first and Otto Lopez struck out swinging to start Heriberto Hernandez flied out to left and Agustin Ramirez struck out swinging to end the inning.
Willson Contreras grounded out to third to begin the top of the second but Mickey Gasper belted his fourth home run of the season to put the Sox on top. Andruw Monasterio got a base hit off Phillips but Jarren Duran struck out swinging. Anthony Siegler walked but Connor Wong grounded out to first to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Javier Sanjoa's bunt was snuffed out by Contreras to start the bottom of the second and Xavier Edwards grounded out to short. Leo Jimenez walked but Griffin Conine took strike three to end the inning.
Sogard flied out to left to start the top of the third and Rafaela grounded out to short. Abreu lined out to right to end the inning. Esteury Ruiz struck out swinging to start the bottom of the third and Brian Navarreto flied out to left. Lopez struck out swinging to end the inning.
The Sox blew a rally in the top of the fourth as Contreras got a base hit to left to start. Gasper walked but Monasterio beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners. Duran struck out swinging and Seigler did the same to end the inning. Hernandez grounded out to short to start the bottom of the fourth and Ramirez struck out swinging. Sanoja flied out to center to end the inning,
Wongs truck out swinging to start the top of the fifth but Sogard walked. Rafaela flied out to center to chase Phillips. Victor Vodnik got Abreu to go down hacking to end the inning. The Marlins struck back in the bottom of the fifth as Edwards hit a ground rule double into the right field stands to start. Jimenez hit a grounder to second and Edwards was thrown out at third, but Conine got a base hit to right. Ruiz walked to load the bases and Navarreto hit a sac fly to center to score Jimenez. Lopez popped up to second to end the inning but the game was tied 1-1.
Tyler Zuber came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Contreras grounded out to third to start. Gasper then hammered his second home run of the game to put the Sox back on top. Monasterio flied out to center and Duran grounded back to the mound to end the inning with the Sox back in front 2-1.
The lead lasted 8 seconds as Hernandez hit one of the most effortless home runs in recorded history to begin the bottom of the sixth. Ramirez struck out swinging but Sanoja got a base hit to left to chase Tolle. Normally 5 1/3 and 2 runs allowed would be good, but blowing the lead twice wasn't a good look. Tyron "El Lanzallamas" Guerrero came in and Edwards walked. Jimenez lined out to second and Conine grounded out to first to end the inning with the game tied 2-2.
Jack Ralston came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Seigler popped up to second. Wong grounded out to short and Sogard grounded out to first to end the inning. Jakob Marsee pinch hit for Ruiz to start the bottom of the seventh and got a base hit to right to start. Navarreto dropped down a bunt to move Marsee to second and Lopez got a base hit in the hole at second. Marsee tried for home but Siegler gunned him down for the second out. Lopez stole second but Hernandez grounded out to short to end the inning.
Michael Petersen came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Rafaela beat out a roller to third to start. Abreu forced Ceddanne at second and Contreras flied out to left. Gasper walked but Monasterio forced Abreu at third to end the inning. Greg Weissert came in to pitch the bottom of the eighth and Kyle Stowers pinch hit for Ramirez. Stowers struck out swinging and Sanoja flied out to center, but Edwards beat out a roller to second. Jimenez flied out to left to end the inning.
Josh Ekness came in to pitch the top of the ninth and Duran flied out to center to start. Seigler walked and Eli White pinch ran for him....only to get thrown out at second trying to steal. Wong popped up to second to end the inning. Caleb Durbin came in for White with Erik Miller now on the mound to start the bottom of the ninth. Conine, Marsee and Navarreto all struck out swinging in short order to end the inning.
The Sox took command in the top of the tenth with Calvin Faucher on the mound and Wong starting at second base. Sogard grounded out to second to move Wong to third and Connor scored on a passed ball to put Boston ahead. Rafaela grounded out to third and Abreu struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston ahead 3-2.
With Aroldis Chapman unavailable, rookie Wyatt Olds came in to close out the bottom of the tenth with Navaretto starting at second base. Lopez hit a routine grounder to Monasterio....thrown away for an error. Hernandez popped up to short and Stowers flied out to center, but Navarreto took third on the throw. Lopez stole second but Sanoja swung and missed for strike three....only for the ball to get away from Wong to allow Navarreto to score the tying run, chasing Olds. Alec Gamboa came in to face Edwards and Sanoja took second on defensive indifference. Edwards grounded out to short to end the inning with the game tied 3-3.
Cade Gibson came in to pitch the top of the eleventh but the Sox suddenly rallied with Abreu starting at second. Contreras singled in the hole at first and Jahmai Jones pinch hit for Gasper. Jones walked to load the bases but Monasterio forced Abreu at home. Duran somehow crushed a grand slam to put the Sox up for good but Durbin flied out to center. Wong grounded out to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 7-3.
Gamboa returned to close out the bottom of the eleventh with Edwards starting at second base. Jimenez walked but Conine flied out to center. Marsee beat out a double play ball to put runners at the corners and a passed ball by Wong moved Marsee to second. Navarreto grounded out to short to end the game. The Sox had won it 7-3 in 11 innings.
Hero of the Night is Jarren Duran. His grand slam put the Sox ahead in the 11th.
The Good:
Willson Contreras was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Mickey Gasper walked twice and belted two home runs.
Jahmai Jones walked and scored a run as a pinch hitter.
Anthony Siegler walked twice in four plate appearances.
Tyron Guerrero tossed 1 2/3 scoreless innings.
Greg Weissert pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Erik Miller struck out the side in the ninth inning.
Alec Gamboa got the win with 1 1/3 scoreless innings
The Bad:
Wilyer Abreu was 0 for 5 with a hat trick of 3 strikeouts.
Eli White was thrown out trying to steal as a pinch runner.
Caleb Durbin was 0 for 1 at the plate.
The Ugly:
Nick Sogard was 0 for 4 with a strikeout but walked.
Ceddanne Rafaela was just 1 for 5 with a strikeout.
Andruw Monasterio was just 1 for 5 with an error but scored a run.
Connor Wong was 0 for 5 with a strikeout and a passed ball but scored a run.
Payton Tolle allowed 2 runs after the Sox took the lead in 5 1/3 innings off 4 hits and 2 walks.
Wyatt Olds got charged with the run in the 10th but due to bad defense.
Final Thoughts:
It was great news all around as not only did the Sox pull another win out of their asses but the New York Yankees and Tampa Bay Rays both lost, inching the Sox closer with just 30 games left. The Sox are in a little bit of trouble with the duo of Adley Rutschman and Connor Wong as automatic outs and the trio of Durbin, Contreras and Abreu struggling with Monasterio's average dropping 20 points in the last 3 weeks. That's 5 of the 9 guys struggling with Duran an enigma but Rafaela, Gasper and Sogard the only consistent hitters. That's not a recipe for success but they have won 5 in a row despite all the struggles. The Sox just find a way to win and they've been doing it since the end of June. The sad part is someone has to go with Trevor Story due to come off the injured list tomorrow with Roman Anthony and Isiah Kiner-Falefa not far behind. Mickey Gasper and Anthony Seigler make the most sense for the infielders and they might dump Jones or White to make room for Anthony. There's still a week until September call ups so they run the risk of losing guys off waivers in the meantime. Still, Roman Anthony has looked great in Portland and Worcester so he'll be a welcome addition. Unfortunately both Story and Kiner sucked in Worcester and a lot of fans are unhappy with them taking spots off guys that held the fort like Sogard, Gasper, Seigler and Monasterio. This weekend is definitely not the time to tinker with chemistry with the biggest series of the year coming up against the Yankees. Still, things are going to work themselves out one way or another. Gotta feel for Wyatt Olds who's had a lousy minor league career, he gets the call and he's a muffed strike three away from saving a crucial, gotta have it game in late August. Duran saved the day again and its becoming a theme, just wish he hit more consistently. The offensive struggles are concerning but they got fresh troops coming so things might get better. The win improved the Sox to 73-59, 5 games behind the Rays for first place in the AL East. The Sox look for the series sweep tomorrow and their sixth straight win when they send Sonny Gray (16-3, 2.79 ERA) up against Ryan Gusto of Miami. The game begins at 6:40 PM at Loan Depot Park.
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