CHICAGO – Thus far, this final road trip heading into the All-Star break has become a sweeping success for the Red Sox.
After beginning the journey by giving the Angels the broom treatment, the surging Red Sox took three in a row at Rate Field, capped by Thursday’s 2-1 victory over a White Sox team that hadn’t lost a home series since April 24-26.
On the strength of a season-high, six-game winning streak, Boston has taken 11 of its last 13 to pull within five games of .500 (43-48) for the first time since May 20.
With what had been elusive momentum finally in their pocket, interim manager Chad Tracy’s squad will head to New York to take on the Mets for the final series before the All-Star break, starting with Friday night’s game at Citi Field.
Here is what mattered most on getaway day.
1. Sandoval sparkles in return
The Red Sox couldn’t have asked for anything more from lefty Patrick Sandoval, who at last returned from Tommy John surgery to make his first Major League start since June 21, 2024, when he was with the Angels. Making his debut for Boston more than 18 months after he signed a two-year deal with Boston, Sandoval held the White Sox to five hits and a run over 4 1/3 innings, walking one and striking out five. Of Sandoval’s 65 pitches, 41 were for strikes.
2. Durbin homers near home
Playing roughly 35 miles from his hometown of Lake Forest, Ill., Red Sox third baseman Caleb Durbin gave his family and friends at Rate Field a thrill by belting a two-run homer to left to break a scoreless tie in the top of the fourth. It was Durbin’s eighth homer since June 10 after hitting just one (off a position player) prior to that.
3. Duran’s catch helps save day
While Boston’s bullpen did an impressive job recording the final 14 outs, Jarren Duran also helped make the lead stand up with a brilliant, diving catch down the left-field line to take extra bases from Miguel Vargas on what likely would have been a leadoff double in the eighth. Per Statcast, Duran covered 94 feet of distance on the play, utilizing a sprint speed of 29.1 feet per second.