Red Sox join elite company after 27th win in 30 games

The Boston Red Sox continued their remarkable turnaround Friday, defeating the Athletics 13-1 to collect their 27th win in their last 30 games. The result improved Boston’s record to 64-51 and extended its winning streak to nine games.

The Red Sox have now dropped only three games since July 3, when the team began this historic stretch. Boston became just the 10th team since 1900 to win at least 27 times in a 30-game stretch, joining the 2017 Cleveland Indians, 1977 Kansas City Royals, 1953 New York Yankees, 1947 Yankees, 1941 Yankees, 1936 San Francisco Giants, 1916 Giants, 1909 Pittsburgh Pirates and 1906 Chicago Cubs.

What makes the run particularly striking is where the Red Sox stood when it began. Boston was 37-48 on July 3, meaning it was more than 10 games below .500. The Red Sox are the first MLB team to win at least 27 of 30 games after entering that stretch at least 10 games below .500, according to the Elias Sports Bureau. Boston had also reached a season-worst 14 games under .500 on June 25.

The turnaround continued through July, when the Red Sox went 21-4. They entered July at 37-47 and August at 58-51, becoming the first team in MLB history to enter a calendar month at least 10 games below .500 and finish it at least seven games above .500, according to Elias. Their .840 winning percentage in July was the best single-month mark in franchise history among months with at least 15 games.

Friday’s victory also featured a historic performance from rookie Payton Tolle. The 24-year-old right-hander struck out a career-best 14 hitters over six innings, allowing two hits and one run. He became the youngest MLB pitcher to record 14 strikeouts in a game since Jose Fernandez in 2014 and the youngest Boston pitcher to reach that total since Roger Clemens in 1986.

Tolle was perfect through four innings before Tyler Soderstrom’s leadoff homer in the fifth ended his no-hit bid. He became the first Red Sox pitcher with 14 strikeouts since Chris Sale in 2019.

Boston’s offense produced 15 hits, with six players collecting multiple hits. Jarren Duran opened the scoring with a two-run homer, while Wilyer Abreu drove in three runs. The Red Sox also went 7-for-12 with runners in scoring position and scored at least 10 runs for the second consecutive game.

Boston has also won nine consecutive series since its three-game set against the Angels beginning July 3, making this one of the most statistically unprecedented stretches in franchise history.

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