Trevor Story had a big night with three hits and two RBIs, helping the Boston Red Sox secure a 5-4 win over the Oakland Athletics in an exciting game that stretched into 11 innings. Wilyer Abreu scored the deciding run on a double-play grounder in the 11th, breaking the tie.
The 11th inning began with Abreu on second base per the new rules. He advanced on Reese McGuire’s single and then dashed home on Tyler O’Neill’s double play against Mitch Spence.
In the bottom half of the inning, Ceddanne Rafaela made a spectacular running catch in center field, denying Shea Langeliers of extra bases. Josh Winckowski pitched the final two innings for the Red Sox and struck out Lawrence Butler for the last out.
Manager Alex Cora praised the team’s improved defense and pitching, highlighting Rafaela’s catch as a prime example. Winckowski, impressed by Rafaela’s catch, emphasized its significance in the game.
Langeliers and JJ Bleday hit homers for the Athletics, who showed better defensive play after committing numerous errors in previous games.
Despite the tough loss, A’s manager Mark Kotsay commended his team’s resilience and improved performance compared to previous outings.
Story’s RBI double in the first inning gave the Red Sox an early 2-0 lead, but Langeliers’ two-run homer in the second tied the game. Bleday’s two-run shot in the third put the Athletics ahead 4-3, but the Red Sox managed to tie it in the seventh on Story’s run-scoring single.
Both starting pitchers, Brayan Bello for the Red Sox and Alex Wood for the Athletics, had solid outings, each allowing three runs before exiting the game.
