Red Sox blank Mets as winning streak hits eight games
The Boston Red Sox shut out the New York Mets 4-0 on Saturday, July 11, at Citi Field, extending their winning streak to eight games. Andrew Monasterio and Masataka Yoshida each hit two-run homers in this red sox mets matchup, pushing Boston to 13 wins in its last 15 and within a half-game of an AL Wild Card spot.
Boston entered the weekend series riding momentum from sweeps of the Angels and White Sox. After a chaotic travel day on Friday, the surging Sox kept rolling through Queens with pitching depth and timely power.
Key Takeaways
- The Red Sox won 4-0 on Saturday for their eighth straight victory and ninth shutout of the season, the most in the American League.
- Monasterio and Yoshida supplied all the offense with two-run homers in the fourth and eighth innings.
- Boston (45-48) trails the Mariners and Twins by just a half-game for the third AL Wild Card berth after winning 13 of 15.
- The Mets (40-56) were held to three hits, went 0 for 8 with runners in scoring position, and were shut out for the ninth time this season.
- Sunday's series finale is the first-half finale; Boston can complete a nine-game road sweep with one more win.
How Did the Red Sox Beat the Mets on Saturday?
Andrew Monasterio broke a scoreless tie in the fourth when he drove a Freddy Peralta fastball into the left-field seats for a two-run homer. Caleb Durbin had walked to open the inning, and Monasterio was starting at first base with Willson Contreras serving a suspension.
Masataka Yoshida added insurance in the eighth, lifting a cutter from Tobias Myers into the right-field seats for another two-run shot. It was Yoshida's third homer of the season and his second big hit of the series after a two-run double on Friday.
Boston's bullpen sealed the shutout after Eduardo Rivera worked 3 1/3 hitless innings in his first big league start. Greg Weissert and Jovani Moran (2-2) bridged the middle innings, Justin Slaten escaped a bases-loaded jam in the eighth, and Danny Coulombe finished it.
Why Does This Eight-Game Streak Matter for Boston?
Just weeks after sitting 14 games under .500 and near falling out of contention, the Red Sox have roared back into the Wild Card picture. Their eight-game run is their longest since a 10-game streak from July 4-13 last year, and MLB.com noted it is the longest current streak in the majors.
Boston has won 16 of 21 and sits one victory from a perfect nine-game road trip before the All-Star break. The Sox already swept the Angels and White Sox; a Sunday win would complete a sweep of the Mets and mark their first road trip sweep of at least nine games since July 29-Aug. 7, 1977.
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Did Travel Chaos Slow the Red Sox Against the Mets?
Hardly. The Red Sox were grounded in Chicago for nearly 24 hours before Friday's series opener because of mechanical issues with their team plane, including a malfunctioning tug and cockpit switch problems described by interim manager Chad Tracy, as ESPN reported.
Boston did not reach Citi Field until 5:05 p.m. ET on Friday, and the opener was delayed to 7:50 p.m. Sonny Gray still pitched six strong innings in a 6-2 win for Boston's seventh straight victory. The Sox wore white T-shirts reading "Show and Go Airlines, See You at 4:15" on Saturday after a normal night of rest.
Can Boston Complete the Road Sweep on Sunday?
According to Yahoo Sports, the Red Sox will send left-hander Payton Tolle (5-6, 3.14 ERA) against the Mets in Sunday's first-half finale while New York likely uses an opener ahead of rookie Zach Thornton. Boston needs one more win to sweep the series and cap a road trip that has reshaped its postseason outlook.