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What a difference a few weeks can make.
The Boston Red Sox were headed for the American League basement, seemingly destined to be sellers at the trade deadline. Experts already included starter Sonny Gray and relief ace Aroldis Chapman in mock trade proposals.
Then they won 14 games in a row. They went from 37-48 to 51-48 and are now alone in 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 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, disgraced baseball team.”
But here they are, just one win away from tying the team’s longest streak in franchise history, at 15 games, which was set in 1946 with Ted Williams at the helm. The Red Sox try not to think about what’s at stake.
“I’m trying not to, but I want it,” third baseman Caleb Durbin said of the possibility of tying the club record. “I can’t speak for anyone else. We really haven’t talked about it, but I want to make history here.”
“It would mean a lot for sure,” first baseman Willson Contreras said. “We try to play the same way every day. … If that happens, it would be great for us. We can celebrate that. If it doesn’t happen, you’ve got to keep going.”
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Boston Red Sox fans cheer 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 both played big roles in the team’s come-from-behind 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 hit Orioles starter Shane Baz’s 86-mph curveball off the Green Monster. Right fielder Wilyer Abreu homered to tie the game at 4-4.
The Orioles answered in the top of the seventh inning when outfielder Tyler O’Neill grounded into a fielder’s choice, 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 make it 5-5.
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Willson Contreras of the Boston Red Sox celebrates after his RBI double against the Baltimore Orioles during the sixth inning of a baseball game Monday in Boston. (Charles Krupa/AP)
Durbin delivered the final blow to the Orioles in the eighth inning, hammering 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 euphoric as he rounded the bases.
“There aren’t many times that you blackout — as they say,” Durbin said. “I think it was one of those moments where I didn’t know what was happening. I couldn’t tell you what I looked like running around the bases.”
“I can’t imagine it being more electric than tonight,” Durbin said. “Could be. Tonight was great though.”
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Wilyer Abreu of the Boston Red Sox 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 homer.
“I felt like (in) the playoffs, going to the World Series, to be honest,” he said. “Hopefully it will happen. We’re on our way, but there’s 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 PM ET, looking to engrave their names alongside the legendary Williams.
