For a while, in the early part of this game, it looked like the Red Sox were on their way to a satisfying victory. Ranger Suarez got through the first inning on eight pitches and held Atlanta scoreless into the fifth, Jarren Duran and Ceddanne Rafaela led things off with back to back home runs, and all the high leverage relievers were ready and rested following an off day. Unfortunately, it didn’t materialize.
For a while, in the bottom of the ninth inning, it looked like the Red Sox were on the verge
of piecing together their most impressive comeback of the season. They were facing Raisel Iglesias — one of the best closers in the game — down by three, and had the bottom of the lineup due up. But five batters into the inning, four men had reached, the tying run was at second, the potential winning run was at first with speed in Jarren Duran, and the heart of the order was coming up. Again, it didn’t materialize.
And that kind of sums up the 2026 Red Sox, doesn’t it? The ingredients are always in the kitchen, and the meal is never made.
We could pinpoint an extraordinary number of moments from the middle of this game where it all fell apart, particularly if you want chronicle Ranger Suarez slowly melting away, but offensively, it’s hard to find a more costly at bat than Mickey Gasper’s double play in the sixth inning. Atlanta was struggling to bridge the gap to their better relievers and looked frustrated they had to leave Didier Fuentes in to face a third hitter, but somehow, they still got the best result they could have hoped for in their most problematic inning on paper.
But regardless of where you want to point the telescope, the night night sky is filled with an array of Red Sox shortcomings. There were approximately 874 different things the Red Sox could have done slightly differently in this game, and if they had done any of them, they probably would have won. Alas, things didn’t materialize.
Here’s a few other fun facts about where the Red Sox stand after this game:
- They’re nine games under .500 for the first time since 2022
- They hit three home runs at Fenway Park for the first time all year tonight, and still lost.
- They’re 0-4 on the homestand and 8-18 at Fenway Park this season.
- They’re still winless when they fall behind by at least three runs.
Three Studs
Jarren Duran: For leading off the bottom of the first inning with a home run:
Ceddanne Rafaela: For immediately following that up with another home run:
Isiah Kiner-Falefa: For a home run of his own in the bottom of the seventh and a single up the middle to help make things interesting in the bottom of the ninth.
He also had this quote after the game:
“We’re honestly just lucky to be in the American League”
You can say that again!
Three Duds
Ranger Suarez: Five runs in five plus innings just isn’t good enough, especially after being handed a two run lead early.
Mickey Gasper: It was a questionable night behind the plate, and that double play was a complete backbreaker.
Wilyer Abreu: Not only did he go 0-4 on the night, but he also made the final out and killed what could have been the most fun rally of the entire season. If you’re going to be one of the biggest sticks in the lineup, you eventually need to start cashing some of these big moments in.
Play of the game:
You could pick a half dozen items here and not be wrong, but for me, it’s the Gasper double play. (A base hit here and there’s a decent chance the Sox put up a number large enough to get the high leverage relievers in the game.)
Anyway, leave it to the 2026 Red Sox to make the play of the game a moment where they score a run, and it still simultaneously crushes their chances to win.
