Boston Red Sox winning streaks have a rich history, and the 2024 ballclub has officially matched a franchise standard that stood untouched for eight decades. The Red Sox secured their 15th victory on Wednesday by defeating the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the opening game of a doubleheader.
The win ties the club record for the longest winning streak in franchise history, a feat last accomplished by the 1946 American League championship team led by Hall of Famer Ted Williams. The current roster matched the 80-year-old milestone following a resilient team effort that featured timely hitting and solid pitching.
How the Red Sox Matched the 1946 Record Against Baltimore
Boston grabbed an early advantage against Orioles starting pitcher Dean Kremer in the opening frame. Caleb Durbin delivered an RBI single, followed by a two-out run-scoring hit from Jarren Duran to help stake the Red Sox to a 4-0 lead. Duran finished the game driving in crucial runs with a two-run triple and adding a sacrifice fly later in the contest.
Baltimore attempted to mount a comeback in the fourth inning when Christian Encarnacion-Strand launched a solo home run to the batter’s eye, narrowing the deficit to 5-2. However, Ceddanne Rafaela immediately answered for Boston in the bottom half of the inning with a solo shot soaring over the Green Monster. Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett earned his sixth win of the season, yielding three runs across 5 2/3 innings despite being struck in the stomach by a sharp 102.8 mph line drive off the bat of Taylor Ward in the fifth. Following a mound visit from training staff and infielders, Bennett remained in the game.
Aroldis Chapman Joins Elite Reliever Company
Closing out the historic victory, relief pitcher Aroldis Chapman retired the side in the ninth inning to lock down his 23rd save of the season. The ninth-inning performance marked the 390th save of Chapman’s career, pulling him into a tie with Hall of Famer Dennis Eckersley for ninth place on the all-time career saves list.
The doubleheader’s first game served as a makeup for a rain postponement earlier in the week. With the 15-game run safely preserved, the Red Sox enter the remainder of their schedule looking to stand alone in the franchise record books as they chase sole possession of the longest winning streak in club history.