The Boston Red Sox are the team of the moment in the Major Leagues. They have spun a streak of 14 wins that has them very close to equaling a record for the franchise that dates back 80 years and they are motivated to go for it.
“It would mean a lot, for sure,” said Venezuelan first baseman Willson Contreras. “We try to play the same way every day. If it happens, it would be great for us. We can celebrate it. If it doesn’t happen, we have to move on.”
The last victory was last night against the Baltimore Orioles, in a comeback that ended 6-5.
In 1946, when Ted Williams was the star of the team, it was the last time the Red Sox had 15 consecutive victories. And that is what this team is aiming for, which looks renewed after a terrifying start to the season. And there is also much more on the horizon.
In the midst of this triumphant march, the team now led by Chad Tracy not only managed to leave the basement of the East division of the American League. Right now the red-legs are in third place, 6 games behind the lead occupied by the Rays, 4.5 games behind the Yankees in second place and if the campaign ended today, they would be in the playoffs as one of the wild cards.
“To be honest, it felt like (the) playoffs, like going to the World Series,” Contreras said of the way they got their 14th win on Monday. “I hope it happens. We are on our way, but there is a lot of season left, a lot of games to play.”
The Venezuelan contribution
It is no coincidence that the Red Sox’s comeback has coincided with the great moment of two offensive mainstays in Tracy’s lineup. Every night there is a different hero and everything has gone well for them, but the Venezuelans Willson Contreras and Wilyer Abreu are the leaders of the squad.
In his first year in Boston, Contreras has responded. He received a deserved invitation to the All-Star Game and in his last 15 games he has 18 hits, including six home runs, and has driven in 20 runs. His averages in this period are .360/.458/.800.
Another who has been productive and hasn’t slowed down because of the All Star break is right fielder Wilyer Abreu, who just won the Player of the Week award. The 27-year-old outfielder from Zulia has hit consistently in the last seven games. He has seven hits – four of them are home runs – seven RBIs and averages .280/.379/.800.
As if that were not enough, this Tuesday the left-handed Ranger Suárez will be activated, who had a brief stint on the injured list when he was experiencing his best moment on the mound. In 17 starts he has a 3.15 ERA, with 97 strikeouts in 91.1 innings pitched.
Tonight, in the second game of the series against the Orioles, the Red Sox are looking for a historic victory for the franchise (the record in MLB is the 17 consecutive victories of the St. Louis Cardinals in 2021). But the course they have set goes beyond today’s result.
