CHICAGO -- Sometimes, you just need a gift.

This was one the Red Sox were all too happy to take, escaping Wrigley Field with a grind-it-out special, winning 4-2 in 11 innings and avoiding being swept by the 32-47 Cubs.

Given what is ahead leading into the All-Star break (14 games in the next 14 days, all against the Rays and Yankees), a little change in momentum and a happy flight back to Boston was crucial for manager Alex Cora’s team.

After sweeping the first series of this three-city trip in Cleveland, the Sox lost the first two in Toronto and scratched out a 10-inning win in the finale. Wrigley was almost a repeat of Toronto.

“I mean, forget about what’s coming up the next couple of weeks. It’s what was going on this weekend and this road trip,” said Cora. “We live in the now. The present, today, was a team that was playing hard, they pitched us well. Our big boys, they’re scuffling a little bit right now and we had to scratch and claw for this one and we got it.”

With two outs in the top of the 11th, the game felt like it was slipping away from the Red Sox as Trevor Story hit a 49.5-mph tapper not that far in front of the plate.

Cubs righty Rowan Wick picked it up and fired to first for what should have been a routine third out.

But the throw sailed wildly down the line at first, and Boston, hard-pressed to generate offense on this day and for most of the series, had two big runs to snap the tie.

For the Red Sox, it was a bizarre Sunday at Wrigley in which their runs were scored on an infield popup by Franchy Cordero that couldn’t be handled (ruled a hit), a bases-loaded walk by Jarren Duran and then the Chicago mishap on the Story nubber.

They were all line drives in the box score as far as the Red Sox were concerned, as they managed to finish a three-city road trip at 5-4.

Now, it’s time for some fun at Fenway.

“We’re grinding,” said Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts. “These guys, they put up a fight. I know their record doesn’t say that, but that’s what happens when you have young kids who want to go out and prove. I’ve been on teams like that before, young guys who want to get out there and prove a point. They want to stay here and impress everyone, and they did that. They gave us a run for our money. They came out with a series win, but it was nice to win one. It’s important, especially with the games coming up.”

Yes, those games coming up. They are ones to circle on the schedule, for sure.

The Rays, a game behind the 44-35 Red Sox for the top American League Wild Card spot, come in for three games, beginning with Monday’s July 4 1:35 ET matinee. Then, it’s the juggernaut Yankees (58-22), who visit Fenway for the first time this season for a four-game series that starts Thursday.

After what they hope will be a fruitful homestand, the Sox head to St. Petersburg for four on the road against the Rays, followed by a three-game set in the Bronx against the Yankees that leads right into the All-Star break.

In 2021, coming out of the break, the Sox played 16 straight against the Yankees, Jays and Rays and went 8-8.

“It’s not like we haven’t been there before,” said Bogaerts.

However, this grueling stretch could start with Bogaerts on the bench. The star shortstop got spiked by Willson Contreras on Sunday, and suffered a left thigh laceration that required seven stitches.

Cora called Bogaerts day-to-day. The Sox also might need to reverse course yet again with the starting rotation for Monday’s game. Michael Wacha spoke of a “heavy arm” on Sunday, and righty Kutter Crawford was scratched from his Minor League start for the likelihood he will step in for Wacha.

The Red Sox are just going through one of those grinds with injuries these days. Key righties Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock have been on the injured list for close to a month. Lefty Rich Hill (left knee sprain) joined them this weekend. Chris Sale hasn’t pitched yet this season, but is at last close to returning from a stress fracture in his right rib cage.

Cora’s team is in survival mode until they get back to full strength.

That’s why Sunday, while far from an artistic beauty for the Red Sox, was a win to savor.

“Today was about grinding and trying to win a game and we found a way,” said Cora.