The 2019 Boston Red Sox season was the 119th season in the team's history, and their 108th season at Fenway Park. The Red Sox entered the season as reigning World Series champions, but did not repeat, as they were eliminated from playoff contention on September 20. With a record of 84 wins and 78 losses, they finished third in the American League East, 19 games behind the New York Yankees. It was the first time the Red Sox did not win their division since 2015. Average attendance at home games was 35,994.[3]
On October 30, the Red Sox exercised their $15M 2019 team option on LHP Chris Sale.[8]
On October 31, LHP David Price announced that he would return to the Red Sox for the 2019 season, declining a contract option that would have allowed him to become a free agent.[9]
November
On November 12, closerCraig Kimbrel declined Boston's one-year, $17.9 million qualifying offer, thus becoming a free agent.[10]
On November 15, the Red Sox announced an average price increase of 2.5 percent for tickets to 2019 games.[11]
On November 16, the Red Sox re-signed 1B/LF Steve Pearce to a one-year, $6.25M deal.[12]
On December 11, radio announcer Tim Neverett advised that he allowed his contract with WEEI-FM to run out and that he would no longer be part of the Red Sox radio broadcast team.[18]
On January 30, the team signed RHP Jenrry Mejía to a minor league contract.[21] Mejía was reinstated after spending three years out of baseball due to a permanent suspension for three failed drug tests.[24]
On January 31, pitcher David Price announced that he was changing his uniform number from 24 to 10.[25]
February
"Truck Day"—when equipment for spring training leaves Fenway Park—was February 4.[26]
On February 13, spring training began for pitchers and catchers.[27]
On March 2, the team announced that it had reached agreement with 17 players, including Andrew Benintendi and Rafael Devers, for one-year deals, resulting in all players on the major league roster being under contract for the season.[34]
On March 23, the Red Sox completed their spring training games in Florida with a record of 12–15.[38]
On March 25 and 26, Boston played their final two spring training games in Mesa, Arizona, against the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs won both games, by scores of 3–2 and 16–7.[39]
On March 26, the Red Sox sent catcher Sandy León outright to Triple-A Pawtucket.[40]
The 2019 regular season began on March 28 against the Seattle Mariners at T-Mobile Park (formerly known as Safeco Field). Manager Alex Cora named Chris Sale as Boston's Opening Day starting pitcher, and advised the starting lineup to the media on March 27.[7] Seattle scored seven runs off of Sale, who only pitched three innings and took the loss. Mariners' shortstop Tim Beckham had two home runs en route to a 12–4 final score. Mookie Betts went 3-for-5 at the plate.
March 28–March 31, at Seattle Mariners After a 12–4 loss in the season opener, the Red Sox came from behind to win the second game of the season, 7–6. Brian Johnson got the win in relief, with Matt Barnes picking up the team's first save of the season. Mitch Moreland's three-run home run in the ninth inning provided the winning margin. A late Boston rally in the third game of the series came up a run short, as Seattle held on for a 6–5 win. Boston again rallied late in the fourth game, loading the bases with one out in the ninth, but fell two runs short, losing 10–8. During the series, only one Red Sox starting pitcher, Nathan Eovaldi in the second game, lasted five innings.
Red Sox lost the series 1–3 (24–34 runs)
April
April 1–April 4, at Oakland Athletics The Red Sox were held scoreless in the first two games of the series, falling to the Athletics by scores of 7–0 and 1–0. It was Boston's first time being shutout back-to-back since their 2015 season.[42] Each game featured an outfield assist by Oakland center fielder Ramón Laureano to retire Xander Bogaerts; at home in the first game, and at third base in the second game.[43] The Red Sox ended their four-game losing streak with a 6–3 win in the third game of the series. Blake Swihart was 3-for-4 at the plate including a home run, while Ryan Brasier recorded his first major league save.[44] In the final game of the series, J. D. Martinez hit his third home run of the season, but the Red Sox were unable to win consecutive games, losing 7–3. Boston's 2–6 start was the worst for a defending World Series champion since the 1998 Florida Marlins,[45] who were 1–7 through eight games played.[46]
Red Sox lost the series 1–3 (9–18 runs)
April 5–April 7, at Arizona Diamondbacks Boston fell to Arizona in the Diamondbacks' home opener, 15–8, after falling behind 14–1 through six innings. Starter Rick Porcello allowed 10 hits and seven runs in 4+2⁄3 innings, followed by Brian Johnson who allowed six hits and seven runs in 1+1⁄3 innings. Late in the game, both Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland homered, while infielder Eduardo Núñez pitched an inning in relief. The second game of the series was tied in the bottom of the ninth, when Betts threw out Eduardo Escobar at the plate as he attempted to score from second on a single to right. However, a two-out walk-off single by the next batter, catcher Carson Kelly, gave the Diamondbacks a 5–4 win. Starting pitcher David Price allowed four runs in six innings for a no decision, while going 1-for-2 at the plate with an RBI. The team's record through 10 games was their worst start since 2011, which also began 2–8.[47] The Red Sox won the final game of the series, 1–0, with the only run coming on a Moreland home run. Five Boston pitchers combined to shutout the Diamondbacks. Two Boston relief pitchers (Marcus Walden and Matt Barnes) batted, the first time that had occurred since 1972.[48]
Dustin Pedroia made his 2019 debut with the Red Sox on April 9.
Prior to the home opener, the Red Sox celebrated their 2018 World Series victory, including raising a World Series banner and awarding World Series rings.[49] In the game, Boston jumped out to an early 2–0 lead after two innings, only to fall behind 5–2 at the end of four, en route to a 7–5 defeat. Chris Sale gave up five runs in four innings for the loss, including a steal of home by Lourdes Gurriel Jr. For the Red Sox, Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland both homered, while Dustin Pedroia was 1-for-4 in his first MLB game since May 2018. In the second game of this short series, Toronto led 5–3 after three innings and 6–5 after eight. In the ninth inning, a Betts walk followed by a Moreland double tied the game. Two subsequent walks (one intentional) loaded the bases, then Rafael Devers delivered a walk-off single, giving Boston a 7–6 win.
Red Sox tied the series 1–1 (12–13 runs)
April 12–April 15, vs. Baltimore Orioles The opening game of the series was a 6–4 win for Boston, giving the team their first back-to-back wins of the season. Xander Bogaerts was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Andrew Benintendi hit his first home run of the year. Eduardo Rodríguez was the first Red Sox starting pitcher to record a win this season, while Ryan Brasier notched his third save. In the second game of the series, Red Sox starter Rick Porcello took the loss to fall to 0–3 on the season, as the Orioles won, 9–5. Christian Vázquez was the only Boston player with two hits, one of them a home run. Baltimore first baseman Chris Davis ended his streak of 54 consecutive at bats without a hit,[50] going 3-for-5 with four RBIs. The third game of the series saw David Price hold the Orioles to three hits and no runs through seven innings, as the Red Sox won, 4–0. Benintendi had to leave the game shortly after fouling a pitch off of his right foot in the bottom of the third inning,[51] while Bogaerts had three RBIs on an eighth inning home run. The closing game of the series was an 8–1 Orioles win on the day of the Boston Marathon, with the Red Sox using a total of six pitchers.
Red Sox tied the series 2–2 (16–21 runs)
April 16–April 17, at New York Yankees The first game of the season between the longtime rivals was an 8–0 shutout by the Yankees, as Chris Sale took the loss to fall to 0–4 on the season. Boston's record fell to 6–12, the team's worst start since the 1996 Red Sox started 3–15.[52] In the second game of this two-game series, Boston starter Nathan Eovaldi held New York to three hits and one run through six innings, with the Red Sox leading, 3–1. However, after the Yankees loaded the bases in the bottom of the seventh inning off of Red Sox reliever Brandon Workman, Brett Gardner hit a grand slam off of Ryan Brasier, giving New York a 5–3 lead and ultimately the win by that score. J. D. Martinez and Christian Vázquez homered for Boston, while Dustin Pedroia left the game in the middle of the second inning due to left knee discomfort.[53] Boston's record of 6–13 was the worst for a defending World Series champion through 19 games since the 1998 Florida Marlins started 5–14.[54] Boston's run differential of -42 set a new MLB-worst for a defending champion through 19 games, surpassing the -37 of the 1988 Minnesota Twins.[55]
Ryan Brasier earned a save in each game of the April 19–21 series.
The opening game against the AL East leading Rays was a 6–4 Red Sox win. Tied 4–4 in the eighth inning, Mookie Betts and Mitch Moreland hit back-to-back home runs, and Ryan Brasier pitched a scoreless ninth inning for his fourth save of the season. In the second game of the series, the Red Sox jumped out to an early 5–0 lead, with four runs coming on a grand slam by Andrew Benintendi in the second inning. The Rays came back to tie the game, 5–5, through eight innings. Boston scored one run in the top of the ninth, helped in part by a pinch hit double by Michael Chavis in his first MLB at bat. Brasier closed out the game for his fifth save of the season, the final out coming when catcher Christian Vázquez threw to first base to pickoff Rays outfielder Tommy Pham. The final game of the series was Boston's first extra innings game of the season. The Red Sox had a 3–2 lead after seven innings, but the Rays tied it in the bottom of the eighth. After scoreless ninth and tenth innings, Boston scored in the top of the eleventh, on a sacrifice fly by Vázquez that scored Rafael Devers. Brasier then got his third save in three days, closing out the 4–3 win.
Red Sox won the series 3–0 (16–12 runs)
April 22–April 25, vs. Detroit Tigers The April 22 game was postponed due to rain, resulting in a day-night doubleheader being scheduled for April 23.[56] In the first game of a Tuesday doubleheader, the teams played to a 3–3 tie through seven innings, before the Tigers scored three runs off of Colten Brewer en route to a 7–4 win, ending the Red Sox' winning streak at three games. Xander Bogaerts had two home runs, as Boston was held to five hits total. In the second game of the doubleheader, the Tigers went ahead 3–0 in the fourth inning. Boston closed the lead to 3–2 entering the ninth, but Detroit got an insurance run before closerShane Greene notched his 11th save of the season in the 4–2 Tigers' win. The Red Sox got a total of five innings of one-run relief from Darwinzon Hernández and Travis Lakins, both of whom made their MLB debuts. In the third game of the series, Boston held a 4–1 lead after six innings, then scored seven runs in the bottom of the eighth, en route to an 11–4 win. J. D. Martinez was 3-for-4 at the plate, while Eduardo Rodríguez held Detroit to one run in six innings and got the win. The series' final game was a 7–3 Boston win, with Rick Porcello getting his first win of the season, and Michael Chavis hitting his second MLB home run.
The April 26 game was postponed due to rain, resulting in a day-night doubleheader being scheduled for June 8.[57] In Saturday's game, Tampa Bay starter Charlie Morton held Boston to two hits and no runs through six innings, as the Rays went on to a 2–1 win. An eighth inning homer by Mookie Betts was the Red Sox' only run. In Sunday's game, Red Sox starter Chris Sale allowed two runs in each of the first two innings (two of the four runs were unearned), taking the loss in a 5–2 Rays win. Michael Chavis hit his third MLB home run.
In the first game of a three-game series, Boston fell behind 4–0 after two innings, then rallied for six runs in the bottom of the third, en route to a 9–4 win. Mookie Betts was 3-for-4, while Michael Chavis had three RBIs. Ryan Brasier got the win in a seven-pitcher effort from the Boston staff. The second game of the series was a 5–1 Boston win, as starter Rick Porcello pitched eight scoreless innings for the win. Betts and Mitch Moreland each homered.
May
May
May 1, vs. Oakland Athletics (cont'd) In the third and final game of the series, Boston starting pitcher Héctor Velázquez was removed after 43 pitches in two innings. The bullpen provided six runs of scoreless relief, as Boston built a 7–1 lead en route to a 7–3 win and series sweep. Mitch Moreland and Christian Vázquez each homered.
In the first game of a four-game series, the Red Sox took a 4–3 lead into the bottom of the ninth. A one-out error by third baseman Rafael Devers put a runner on first. A single then put runners at the corners, and Nicky Delmonico followed with a three-run walk-off home run off of Ryan Brasier, giving Chicago the win, 6–4. Chris Sale got his first win of the season in the second game of the series, a 6–1 Boston win, allowing no runs and three hits in six innings pitched. Devers and Michael Chavis each homered. The third game of the series was notable for the Red Sox scoring nine runs with two outs in the third inning; after the first two batters were retired, Boston had 10 hits in a row (four singles, three doubles, and three home runs).[58] Chavis and Christian Vázquez each had four hits during the game, a 15–2 Boston win. The series' closing game was tied, 2–2, going into the eighth inning, when Boston scored seven runs. Four runs came on a grand slam by Xander Bogaerts, as the Red Sox won, 9–2.
The opening game of the series saw all of Baltimore's runs come on a grand slam by Jonathan Villar off of Josh Smith, who was making a spot start for Boston. The Red Sox plated only a single run, resulting in a 4–1 loss. The first five batters in Boston's order were a collective 0-for-19. With David Price on the injured list, Héctor Velázquez started the second game of the series, leaving after three innings with the score tied, 2–2. Marcus Walden then pitched three innings in relief, later getting credit for the win, as Boston led 6–3 after six innings. Matt Barnes closed out the 8–5 win with a four-out save. J. D. Martinez hit his 200th MLB career home run;[59]Xander Bogaerts and Mitch Moreland also homered. The final game of the series featured Chris Sale holding the Orioles to three hits and one run through eight innings, including pitching an immaculate inning in the bottom of the seventh.[60] Sale received a no decision, as the game went to extra innings, tied 1–1. There were no runs scored in the first two extra frames, with Jackie Bradley Jr. reaching over the outfield wall to prevent a game-winning homer by Trey Mancini in the bottom of the 11th.[61]Andrew Benintendi hit a solo home run to give Boston a 2–1 lead in the top of the 12th, and Heath Hembree closed out the win with his first MLB save. The win gave the Red Sox a 19–19 record, the first time the team was at .500 since the second game of the season.
Eduardo Rodríguez started the first game of the series, holding Seattle scoreless through seven innings. Boston's offense had 15 hits, winning by a 14–1 score. Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers, and Mitch Moreland each homered. With the win, the Red Sox reached 20–19, their first winning record of the season. In the second game of the series, Seattle jumped out to an early 4–0 lead in the top of the first inning; Boston responded with one run in bottom of the second and eight runs in the bottom of the third. Boston's 9–5 victory gave the team their first four-game winning streak of the season. Rick Porcello went 6+2⁄3 innings and got the win. Every Boston batter walked at least once, while Moreland and Sandy León each homered. The final game of the series was an 11–2 Boston win, with Michael Chavis going 3-for-5 at the plate with five RBIs, while J. D. Martinez had two home runs.
In the opener of a two-game series, Chris Sale struck out 17 batters, a new career high.[62] He left the game after seven innings with a 3–2 lead, but received a no decision as the game went to extra innings, tied 4–4. Colorado scored a run in the 11th inning off of two walks and a single for a 5–4 win, ending Boston's winning streak at five games. Boston's relievers had seven more strikeouts; the total of 24 tied the single-game record for the Red Sox franchise.[63] The second game of the series also went to extra innings; after Boston built an early 5–0 lead, Colorado tied the game at five in the seventh inning. In the 10th inning, the Rockies had a leadoff double, but were unable to score. In Boston's half of the inning, Xander Bogaerts doubled, Rafael Devers was intentionally walked, and then Michael Chavis drove in Bogaerts to give the Red Sox the win, 6–5.
Boston lost the first game of a three-game series, 3–1. A two-run homer by George Springer in the eighth inning took the Astros from a 1–0 deficit to a 2–1 lead. Xander Bogaerts and Christian Vázquez each had three hits for the Red Sox. Houston scored five runs in the second game of the series before Boston had a chance to bat, chasing starter Héctor Velázquez after 1⁄3 of an inning. Boston got no closer than trailing by three runs, 6–3, after the fourth inning, as the Astros went on to win, 7–3. Vázquez homered for the Red Sox. In the final game of the series, Houston had a 3–1 lead after three innings. In the fifth inning, Boston tied the game, 3–3, on a Michael Chavis solo home run, followed by a Mookie Betts double and Bogaerts RBI single. Bogaerts again drove in Betts in the seventh inning, giving the Red Sox what proved to be the winning run in a 4–3 victory. Brandon Workman got the save, the first of his MLB career.[64]
The Red Sox won the first game of the series, 12–2, while out-hitting the Blue Jays, 16 to 3. Michael Chavis, Jackie Bradley Jr., Xander Bogaerts, and Rafael Devers all homered. Boston lost the second game of the series, 10–3, after Toronto jumped out to a 6–0 lead through five innings, powered by DHRowdy Tellez with two home runs for five RBIs. Boston's runs came on three solo homers; by Bradley Jr., Devers, and Mitch Moreland. The third game of the series was a 6–5 Boston win in 13 innings. Toronto erased one-run deficits both in the bottom of the ninth and in the bottom of the 12th. Boston's winning run came on a Chavis homer; Devers and Mookie Betts also homered earlier in the game. In the final game of the series, Toronto scored first and last, however it was a Boston win, 8–2. Ryan Weber held the Blue Jays to one run on three hits in six innings, earning his first MLB win as a starting pitcher.[65]Steve Pearce hit his first home run of the season.
Boston out-hit Houston, 7–4, in the first game of the series, but lost, 4–3. Chris Sale allowed four runs (two earned) in six innings and took the loss, falling to 1–6 on the season. Houston had a 4–0 lead through four innings, with Boston scoring on solo home runs by Xander Bogaerts, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Christian Vázquez in the sixth, eighth, and ninth innings, respectively. In the second game of the series, Red Sox starter David Price left in the first inning, due to flu-like symptoms.[66] The game remained scoreless until Houston took a 2–0 lead in the sixth inning. Boston rallied to tied the game in the top of the ninth, 3–3, but was unable to take the lead, despite having runners on first and third with no outs. In the bottom of the ninth, the Astros had a double, two walks, and a game-winning single by Carlos Correa, giving the Red Sox another 4–3 loss. Houston took a 1–0 first-inning lead in the final game of the series, however Boston scored four unanswered runs to win, 4–1. Rafael Devers hit his seventh home run of the season and Marcus Walden got the save.
Cleveland took an early 3–0 lead in the first game of the series, with Boston evening the score, 3–3, at the end of four innings. Boston then scored six runs in the fifth, and went on to win, 12–5. Sandy León had a three-run homer and J. D. Martinez hit two home runs. The second game of the series had a 69-minute rain delay during the second inning. Scoreless until the sixth inning, Boston took a 3–0 lead, and held a 5–2 lead going into the ninth inning. Cleveland rallied for five runs in the ninth, with the tying runs being charged to Ryan Brasier, and Travis Lakins taking the loss as Boston fell, 7–5. The final game of the series featured 23 runs and 32 hits, with Cleveland winning, 14–9. Four different Red Sox homered, including Andrew Benintendi, who had three RBIs.
Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (26–26 runs)
May 30–May 31, at New York Yankees The first game of the series was postponed due to rain and rescheduled for August 3 at 7 p.m.[67] In Friday's game, Boston took an early lead on a second-inning Rafael Devers solo home run, but New York scored four unanswered runs to win, 4–1, giving the Red Sox their fifth defeat in seven games. Chris Sale took the loss and fell to 1–7 for the season, as Boston (29–28) ended the month 8+1⁄2games behind the division-leading Yankees (37–19).
June
June
June 1–June 2, at New York Yankees (cont'd) Boston scored first in Saturday's game, with New York taking a 3–1 lead at the end of the second inning. The Red Sox tied the game in the fourth inning, on a solo home run by Xander Bogaerts and an RBI single by Sandy León. A two-run homer by Yankees catcher Gary Sánchez in the fifth inning was the only other scoring of the game. New York's 5–3 victory put them 9+1⁄2games ahead of Boston, as the Red Sox fell back to .500 (29–29) for the season. In the final game of the series, Boston led the entire way, with New York drawing no closer than 3–2 at the end of the fourth inning, en route to an 8–5 Red Sox win. Bogaerts and J. D. Martinez both homered. Before the game, manager Alex Cora announced that Mookie Betts would be the team's leadoff hitter for the rest of the season, as he had been during 2018.[68]
Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (12–14 runs)
June 4–June 6, at Kansas City Royals After Kansas City had an early 2–0 lead in the opening game of the series, Boston went ahead by a run in the sixth. Eduardo Núñez then hit a pinch hit three-run homer in the eighth inning, as Boston pulled away for an 8–3 win. The middle game of the series was a complete game shutout by Chris Sale, who also pitched his second immaculate inning of the season.[69]Rafael Devers hit his ninth home run of the season as Boston won, 8–0. Boston completed the sweep with a 7–5 win on Thursday afternoon, using seven pitchers with Colten Brewer getting the win. Mookie Betts hit his 10th home run of the season.
On June 8, Marco Hernández played in his first MLB game since May 2017.
Red Sox won the series 3–0 (23–8 runs)
June 7–June 9, vs. Tampa Bay Rays The Rays defeated the Red Sox, 5–1, in the opening game of the series, as Tampa Bay starter Yonny Chirinos did not allow a baserunner until the sixth inning. Xander Bogaerts had two of Boston's four hits, and the team's only RBI. In the first game of a Saturday doubleheader, Tampa Bay had a 4–1 lead at the end of the second inning, and went on to win, 9–2. Marco Hernández played in his first MLB game since the 2017 season, and Jackie Bradley Jr. hit his fifth home run of the season. The second game of the doubleheader was a 5–1 Red Sox win, as David Price held the Rays to one run in six innings, with 10 strikeouts. The final game of the series was a 6–1 Rays win on Sunday, with Hernández driving in Boston's only run.
Red Sox lost the series 1–3 (9–21 runs)
June 10–June 13, vs. Texas Rangers Chris Sale started the series' opener, holding Texas to one run (unearned) on three hits in seven innings, while striking out 10. Boston held a 2–1 lead going into the ninth, however the Rangers rallied for two runs, going ahead 3–2. Brock Holt then had a two-out RBI in the bottom of the ninth to send the game to extra innings. Texas scored what proved to be the winning run in the top of the 11th, on a double and a single, for a 4–3 final. The second game of the series was a 9–5 Rangers win, dropping the Red Sox back to .500 on the season (34–34). The game included an inside-the-park home run by Hunter Pence, ejections of both managers (Alex Cora for Boston, Chris Woodward for Texas), and the first career ejection of Andrew Benintendi.[70][71] Texas took a 2–1 first-inning lead in the third game of the series, with Boston going ahead 3–2 in the fifth inning, and the Rangers tying the score at 3–3 in the top of the eighth. In the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox loaded the bases on a double, and single, and a walk. Mookie Betts then also walked, forcing in Marco Hernández with the winning run, 4–3. In the final game of the series, the Red Sox were down 6–1 in the middle of the second inning, with starter David Price leaving the game after allowing six runs on five hits in 1+1⁄3 innings. Boston then used seven relief pitchers, who did not allow any more runs. The offense tied the game in the fifth inning, and a home run by Xander Bogaerts (one of five the team hit) in the seventh inning put Boston ahead, 7–6. With a depleted bullpen and Heath Hembree not available, Josh Smith closed out the victory for his first MLB save.
In the opener of a three-game series in Baltimore, Boston had 16 hits including six home runs, for a 13–2 win. Eduardo Rodríguez held the Orioles to one run in seven innings, improving his record on the season to 7–4. The second game was scoreless until the sixth inning, with the Red Sox taking a 3–2 lead, en route to a 7–2 final. Chris Sale got the win and improved his record to 3–7, while J. D. Martinez hit his 16th home run of the season. Boston trailed Baltimore, 3–2, going into the ninth inning of the final game of the series, when a home run by Marco Hernández tied the game and sent it to extra innings. The Red Sox then outscored the Orioles, 5–3, in the extra frame, giving Boston an 8–6 victory and their fifth consecutive win.
Boston extended their winning streak to six games, with a 2–0 win in the series' opener in Minnesota. The only runs of the game came on three singles to open the game, and a pair of ninth-inning doubles. Rick Porcello improved his record to 5–6, while Ryan Brasier recorded his seventh save of the year. The second game of the series was Boston's longest to this point in the season, as the teams were tied, 2–2, at the end of regulation. In the 13th inning, Mookie Betts homered for the Red Sox and Max Kepler homered for the Twins, leaving the game still tied, 3–3. Although Andrew Benintendi reached third base with no outs in the top of the 17th, he was left stranded there. In the bottom of the inning, the Twins loaded the bases with one out on a single, a double, and an intentional walk; Kepler then drove in the winning run with a single to right field. J. D. Martinez and Twins third baseman Miguel Sano each struck out five times in the game.[72] Minnesota led the final game of the series, 4–3, after four innings. Boston then scored the final six runs of the game for the win, 9–4. Eduardo Rodríguez improved his season record to 8–4.
Red Sox won the series 2–1 (14–8 runs)
June 21–June 23, vs. Toronto Blue Jays In the series' opener, the Red Sox fell behind, 4–1, at the end of four innings. At the end of seven, Toronto still led, 5–4, but Boston tied the game in the eighth, and the game went to extra innings. Christian Vázquez then hit a two-run walk-off home run in the bottom of the tenth, giving the Red Sox a 7–5 win. Boston held a 6–0 lead after three innings in the second game of the series, only to have Toronto go ahead, 8–6, in the eighth inning. A Red Sox rally in the ninth inning came up a run short, resulting in an 8–7 loss. Boston's bullpen allowed seven runs in the final four innings. The final game of the series was a 6–1 Blue Jays win, as the Red Sox did not score until the ninth inning.
Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (15–19 runs)
June 24–June 26, vs. Chicago White Sox Trailing 2–1 after four innings of the first game of the series, Boston scored a single run in each remaining inning, for a 6–5 win. The winning run came on an infield single by Marco Hernández with the bases loaded and two outs in the bottom of the ninth. Start time of the second game of the series was delayed for 24 minutes by rain. The teams then traded early runs, and were tied 3–3 after three innings. The Red Sox went on to score the final three runs of the game, for a 6–3 win. Xander Bogaerts hit his 15th home run of the season, while starter David Price improved his record to 5–2. Boston was unable to complete the sweep on Wednesday afternoon, as Chicago scored two runs in the top of the ninth inning via a José Abreu homer for an 8–7 win. Matt Barnes was charged with his sixth blown save of the season, and took the loss. The White Sox had early leads of 3–2 and 5–3, while the Red Sox had gone ahead, 7–6, via three runs in the bottom of the eighth.
The first MLB game played in Europe opened with the Yankees scoring six runs in the top of the first inning, chasing Boston starter Rick Porcello after one-third of an inning. The Red Sox responded with six runs of their own in the bottom of the first, as New York starter Masahiro Tanaka only lasted two-thirds of an inning. The Yankees built a 17–6 lead through five innings, which the Red Sox narrowed to 17–13 at the end of the seventh, but there was no further scoring. Michael Chavis had a pair of three-run home runs, while Jackie Bradley Jr. also homered. At 4 hours 42 minutes, the game was only three minutes shorter than the longest nine-inning game in MLB history (August 18, 2006, also between the Red Sox and Yankees).[73] In the second and final game of the series, the Red Sox jumped out to a 4–0 first-inning lead. The Yankees scored two runs in the second, and it remained 4–2 until the seventh inning, when New York scored nine runs, giving them an 11–4 lead. Boston closed to 12–8 in the bottom of the eighth, and had the bases loaded with two outs, but there was no further scoring. The loss, Boston's third in a row, left the team with a 44–40 record at the end of June, 11 games behind New York in the American League East standings.
In the opening game of the series, Boston scored four runs in the top of the first inning, and built a 7–1 lead en route to a 10–6 victory. Starting pitcher David Price limited the Blue Jays to four hits and two runs in six innings. Rafael Devers had two home runs and six RBIs, while Christian Vázquez went 3-for-5 with a homer. The second game of the series was tied, 3–3, after four innings. The only further scoring was three runs by the Blue Jays, handing the Red Sox a 6–3 defeat. Vázquez hit his 13th home run of the season, Chris Sale saw his record fall to 3–8, and Xander Bogaerts had a golden sombrero (four strikeouts) for the first time in his career.[74] In the final game of the series, a nine-run sixth inning and a pinch hit home run by Marco Hernández in the ninth gave Boston an 8–7 win. Devers and Michael Chavis also homered.
Boston won the opener of the series, 9–6, in a game that included a two-hour rain delay. Rafael Devers and Xander Bogaerts each homered, their 16th and 17th of the season, respectively. The start of the second game of the series was delayed by rain for four hours. Boston then jumped out to an early 5–0 lead, and went on to win, 10–6. Andrew Benintendi was 4-for-6 at the plate, only lacking a home run for the cycle. On Sunday, the Red Sox completed a series sweep with a 6–3 win. David Price improved his record on the season to 7–2, and Christian Vázquez hit his 14th home run of the year. Boston reached the All-Star break with a record of 49–41 (0.544 winning percentage), nine games behind the division-leading Yankees, and two games behind Cleveland for the second wild card spot.
In this three-game series between the teams that contested the 2018 World Series, Boston won the opener, 8–1, in a game that included a one-hour rain delay. Red Sox starter Eduardo Rodríguez improved his record to 10–4 for the season, allowing only five hits and one run in seven innings. Rafael Devers, Christian Vázquez, and Xander Bogaerts each homered. The second game of the series was a one-run game entering the fifth inning, but turned into an 11–2 Dodgers' win. Chris Sale saw his record for the season fall to 3–9; Bogaerts had Boston's only home run and both RBIs. In the final game of the series, Boston fought back from a 4–2 deficit to tie the game in the eighth; the game then went to extra innings. The Red Sox were not able to capitalize on a leadoff double by Jackie Bradley Jr. in the 11th. The Dodgers went on to score three runs in the 12th, giving Boston a 7–4 loss. Duration of the game was five hours and 40 minutes.
The first game in this four-game series was a 10–8 Boston win; a two-run victory after the Red Sox had held leads of 5–0 and 10–4. Eight different Red Sox players scored, and Michael Chavis hit his first MLB grand slam. Toronto won the second game, 10–4, as Andrew Cashner took the loss in his first start with Boston, having allowed six runs (five earned) on eight hits in five innings. Xander Bogaerts hit his 21st home run of the season. The Red Sox won the third game, 5–4, with Eduardo Rodríguez improving his record on the season to 11–4. Rafael Devers went 3-for-4 at the plate, including his 18th home run of the year, and had four RBIs. Boston won the final game of the series, 5–0, with Chris Sale getting his first win at Fenway Park since July 11, 2018.[77] Devers and Mookie Betts both homered.
Baltimore won the opener of this three-game series, 11–2, as Boston's only runs came on a second-inning two-run homer by Sam Travis. In the middle game of the series, Boston took an early 5–0 lead, with Baltimore tying the game, 5–5, in the third inning. Boston then scored eight runs in the fourth inning, en route to a 17–6 win. Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a pair of three-run home runs; Rafael Devers, Mookie Betts, and Sandy León also homered. Baltimore took the closing game of the series, 5–0, as the Red Sox were held to one hit, a seventh-inning double by Devers.
Boston won the series' first game, 9–4, mainly powered by a seven-run third inning, which saw J. D. Martinez, Andrew Benintendi, and Sam Travis each homer. Eduardo Rodríguez improved his record on the season to 12–4. The second game was also a Boston win, 5–4. Christian Vázquez had a pinch hit home run, and the Red Sox reached 10 games over .500 (56–46) for the first time this season. The final game of the series included a formal protest by the Red Sox, "due to placement of substitutes in the lineup following the removal of the DH."[78] On the field, Boston had a 2–0 lead through three innings, however the Rays then scored three unanswered runs to win, 3–2.
In the opener of a four-game series, the Red Sox scored seven runs in the first inning and went on to a 19–3 win, setting a franchise record for the most runs scored in a game against the Yankees.[79] Boston had 10 doubles,[80] including two by Michael Chavis, who entered the game after Brock Holt was ejected.[81]Xander Bogaerts had two home runs, while Rafael Devers and Sandy León also homered. In the second game of the series, Boston scored three first-inning runs, led 7–0 after four innings, and went on to a 10–5 win. Andrew Cashner held the Yankees to three runs on 10 hits in 6+2⁄3 innings. Mookie Betts had the fifth three-homer game of his career,[82] and J. D. Martinez also homered. The Red Sox reached 11 games over .500 (58–47) for the first time this year.[83] Boston also won the third game of the series, 9–5, with Martinez and Andrew Benintendi hitting home runs. The Red Sox were unable to complete the sweep, as the Yankees won Sunday's game, 9–6. The two teams combined for five errors, including a throwing error by Jackie Bradley Jr. that allowed two runs to score.[84] Benintendi again homered, while Chris Sale saw his record fall to 5–10 on the season.
Boston scored two first-inning runs in the opening game of the series and held a 5–4 lead after five innings, but fell to Tampa Bay, 6–5. The Red Sox left seven runners on base in the final three innings. Andrew Benintendi homered for the third consecutive game.[85] In the series' second game, the Rays had a 5–0 lead after two innings, and went on to an 8–5 win. J. D. Martinez and Michael Chavis each homered. Boston finished July with three consecutive losses; at 59–50, the team was 10 games behind the division-leading Yankees, and 2+1⁄2 games out of the second wild card spot.
Tampa Bay completed their sweep of the three-game series with a 9–4 win. Xander Bogaerts had two home runs, and Mookie Betts also homered. Andrew Benintendi was 3-for-4 at the plate with three doubles. With four losses in a row, Boston fell to 59–51 on the season.
The opening game of this series—with four games to be played in three days, due to a rainout earlier in the season—was won by New York, 4–2. All scoring occurred in the first inning, with Boston's runs coming on a J. D. Martinez home run with Xander Bogaerts on base. The Red Sox' losing streak reached five games, for the first time since their 2015 season. New York won the second game of the series, 9–2, in the first game of a Saturday doubleheader. Boston's two runs came on solo homers by Jackie Bradley Jr. and Andrew Benintendi. Red Sox manager Alex Cora and starting pitcher Chris Sale were both ejected in the fourth inning.[86] A 6–4 loss to the Yankees in the second game of the doubleheader gave the Red Sox their seventh loss in a row. Rafael Devers hit his 22nd home run of the season. The Yankees completed the sweep on Sunday evening with a 7–4 win. Christian Vázquez and Michael Chavis both homered, as the Red Sox' losing streak reached eight games.
The Red Sox ended their losing streak with a 7–5 win in the first of three games against the Royals. Sam Travis and Rafael Devers each homered, with Brandon Workman recording his sixth save of the year. Kansas City won the second game of the series, 6–2, scoring all their runs off of Boston starter Andrew Cashner in 5+1⁄3 innings. The final game of the series saw Boston take a 4–2 lead through five innings, with Kansas City coming back to tie the game, 4–4, after seven innings. With no further scoring in regulation, the game went to extra innings, and entered a rain delay in the top of the 10th inning. At approximately 12:30a.m., the game was officially suspended—the Royals returned to Fenway on August 22 at 1:05p.m. to complete the game.[87] For completion of the game and series, see August 22.
Series was tied 1–1, pending completion of suspended game
The first game of the four-game series was won by Boston, 3–0. Chris Sale held Los Angeles to two hits in eight innings, improving his record on the year to 6–11. Red Sox scoring came on a two-run homer by Sam Travis and a solo homer by Sandy León. Boston won the second game, 16–4, while also outhitting the Angels, 14–3. J. D. Martinez was 4-for-5 at the plate, with two home runs and two doubles. Mookie Betts, Rafael Devers, and Mitch Moreland also homered. The Angels responded to their 12-run loss on Friday with an 8-run win on Saturday, 12–4. Sam Travis hit his fifth home run of the season. Los Angeles took an early 3–0 lead in the final game of the series, with Boston going ahead, 4–3, after five innings. An eighth-inning run by the Angels tied the game, which went to extra innings; a tenth-inning run gave Los Angeles the win, 5–4. Christian Vázquez hit his 18th home run of the season.
Chris Sale recorded his 2,000th MLB strikeout on August 13.
In the series' opening game, Boston trailed, 5–1, after three innings. Two runs by the Red Sox in the fourth, one in the seventh, and one in the ninth resulted in a 5–5 tie. In the bottom of the ninth, Cleveland's Carlos Santana hit a walk-off home run, giving Boston their third loss in a row. Boston built a 6–1 lead midway through the sixth inning of the second game of the series, only to have Cleveland tie the game and force extra innings. A home run by Jackie Bradley Jr. in the top of the 10th inning proved to be the difference in a 7–6 Red Sox win. Andrew Cashner was used in relief and got the save, the first of his MLB career.[88]Chris Sale recorded the 2,000th strikeout of his MLB career.[89]Rafael Devers became the latest MLB player to record six hits in a game; he was 5-for-5 in the first nine innings, and had his sixth hit in the 10th inning.[90] The Red Sox won the third and final game of the series, 5–1. Devers homered, and Xander Bogaerts hit two home runs.
The opening game of the series was a 9–1 Boston win, as the Red Sox outhit the Orioles, 12–5. Mookie Betts hit his 21st home run of the season. Boston extended their winning streak to four games with a 4–0 win in the middle game of the series. Eduardo Rodríguez improved his record on the season to 14–5, while Brock Holt and Rafael Devers each homered. Boston completed the sweep on Sunday, coming back from a 6–0 deficit to record a 13–7 win. Devers and Sam Travis each homered, as Boston used seven pitchers, with Marcus Walden getting the win. Devers became the first MLB players to reach 100 RBIs on the season.[91]
Boston lost the opening inter-league game against Philadelphia, 3–2. All three Phillies runs came in the first inning, from a walk, two doubles, and a single. Both Red Sox runs came in the third inning, as Jackie Bradley Jr. hit a two-run homer. Boston's five-game winning streak ended as the team fell to 67–60 on the season. Philadelphia then swept the two-game series with a 5–2 win, despite the Red Sox outhitting the Phillies, 8–6. Bradley Jr. homered again, his 16th of the season. Rick Porcello took the loss and fell to 11–10 on the season.
This was the resumption of the suspended game from August 7, which was halted due to rain with no outs in the top of the 10th with no runners on base and the score tied, 4–4.[92] The Red Sox allowed anyone under 18 years old to enter Fenway Park for free; all other tickets were only $5 each, with proceeds going to The Jimmy Fund.[93] After retiring the Royals in order in the top of the 10th, Christian Vázquez hit a one-out double, which was followed by an intentional walk and then a game-winning single by Brock Holt.
This three-game series was held on Players Weekend, when MLB players are allowed and encouraged to put nicknames on the back of their uniforms. For the opening game, the nicknames used by Boston's starting lineup were as follows:[94][95]
In the opening game, Boston scored three runs in each of the first two innings, and went on to an 11–0 win. Eduardo Rodríguez got the win and improved his record on the season to 15–5. J. D. Martinez hit a pair of three-run homers, going 3-for-4 at the plate with seven RBIs. In the middle game of the series, the Red Sox had a 4–3 lead after four innings. San Diego tied the game with a run in the seventh, then Brock Holt's ninth-inning home run provided Boston's winning margin, 5–4. The Red Sox were unable to complete the sweep on Sunday, falling to the Padres, 3–1. Boston's run came on the 31st homer of the season by Martinez.
In this inter-league series, Boston took a 6–0 lead in the first game, and went on to a 10–6 win. Jackie Bradley Jr., Christian Vázquez, and Xander Bogaerts each homered. At an estimated distance of 478 feet (146m), the homer by Bradley Jr. was the longest by a Red Sox player since Statcast was introduced in 2015.[96] Boston completed the two-game sweep with a 7–4 win, as Eduardo Rodríguez got his 16th win of the season. Bogaerts hit two home runs, becoming the first Red Sox shortstop with 30 in a season since Nomar Garciaparra in 1998.[97]J. D. Martinez and Rafael Devers also homered.
In the series' opener, Boston took an early 4–0 lead, and had a 6–4 lead going to the bottom of the ninth inning, only to see the Angels tie the game and force extra innings. The tie held until Mookie Betts hit his second home run of the game in the top of the 15th inning, which proved to be the difference as the Red Sox won, 7–6. Duration of the game was 5 hours 23 minutes, and included the 33rd homer of the season by J. D. Martinez. In the middle game of the series, the Red Sox held a 4–3 lead after seven innings. In the bottom of the eighth, the Angels scored seven runs, and went on to win, 10–4. The loss left Boston with an overall record of 73–63, having accrued a record of 14–13 during August.
Boston won the third game of the series, 4–3. Xander Bogaerts and J. D. Martinez each homered, with Bogaerts going 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Brandon Workman recorded his 10th save of the season.
In the first game of the series, Minnesota took a 6–0 lead through the middle of the fifth inning. Boston closed to 6–4 at the end of the fifth, and to 6–5 at the end of the eighth. Despite a leadoff single in the bottom of the ninth, the Red Sox were unable to score again. Rick Porcello fell to 12–11 on the season, while Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi both homered. Boston won the second game of the series, 6–2, as Mookie Betts had two home runs, including one to leadoff the game. Eduardo Rodríguez got his 17th win of the season, and Brandon Workman got his 11th save. The final game of the series was a 2–1 win by the Twins. The Red Sox had the tying run on base in the ninth inning, but Devers was thrown out at the plate trying to score on a two-out double that J. D. Martinez hit off of the Green Monster. Boston's run came on a Betts homer that hit Pesky's Pole.
Dave Dombrowski was dismissed shortly after the September 8 loss to the Yankees.
Jhoulys Chacín got the start in the first game of this four-game series, retiring all six batters he faced while striking out four. Powered mainly by a four-run fourth inning, Boston went on to win, 6–1, while using seven pitchers. Mitch Moreland hit his 15th home run of the season. The Yankees won the series' second game, 5–1, also mainly due to a four-run fourth inning. Boston's run came on a ninth-inning homer by J. D. Martinez. New York won the third game of the series, 10–5, scoring first and never trailing. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Mookie Betts each homered.
Following the September 8 loss to the Yankees, which dropped the Red Sox to 76–67 on the season, the team dismissed president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski.[99] The team announced that baseball operations would be run by assistant general managers Brian O'Halloran, Eddie Romero, and Zack Scott on an interim basis.[99]
The first game of the series was a 4–3 win by Toronto, after Boston had held leads of 1–0 and 3–2. Mookie Betts hit his 28th home run of the season. The second game of the series was an 8–0 win by the Blue Jays, extending Boston's losing streak to five games. The Red Sox only collected two hits, one each by Brock Holt and Rafael Devers. Boston won the final game of the series, 7–4, with Blue Jay starter and former Red Sox pitcher Clay Buchholz taking the loss. Boston used nine pitchers, with Brandon Workman notching his 12th save of the season.
In this weekend inter-league series, Boston won the first game, 2–1. The winning run scored on a sacrifice fly by Andrew Benintendi in the top of the ninth inning. Boston also won the second game, 6–3. Christian Vázquez had a third-inning grand slam and a sixth inning solo homer.
The opening game of this three-game inter-league series featured the Giants' Mike Yastrzemski, grandson of Hall of Fame inductee Carl Yastrzemski of the Red Sox; the younger Yastrzemski hit his 20th home run of the season in the fourth inning.[102] San Francisco built a 5–1 lead through four innings, which became a 5–5 tie at the end of the sixth. With no further scoring in regulation, the game went into extra innings. The teams traded runs in the 13th inning, and the Giants pushed across a run in the 15th inning, for a 7–6 win. With a game duration of 5 hours and 54 minutes, the teams used a total of 24 pitchers, tying the major league record,[103] and 50 players total.[104] The second game of the series was an 11–3 win by the Giants, the 2,000th win of manager Bruce Bochy's career.[105]Rafael Devers hit his 30th home run of the season, while Jackie Bradley Jr. hit his 20th. Before the game, a ceremonial first pitch was thrown by Carl Yastrzemski to his grandson Mike.[106] The Red Sox won the final game of the series, 5–4, with Eduardo Rodríguez recording his 18th win of the season. All of Boston's run came in the first two innings. Xander Bogaerts was 2-for-4 with three RBIs, in his first MLB game as a designated hitter.
The opening game of this four-game series was won in 11 innings by the Rays, 5–4. With the Rays defending Mitch Moreland's at-bats with four outfielders,[107] he hit two home runs and had all four RBIs for the Red Sox. A win by the Cleveland Indians while Boston's game was in progress eliminated the Red Sox from postseason contention.[108] The second game of the series was again a 5–4 Rays win in 11 innings. Tied 3–3 after nine innings, Moreland homered for Boston to take a 4–3 lead in the top of the 11th. With no outs and a runner on second in the bottom of the 11th, Nate Lowe hit a walk-off home run to give Tampa Bay the win. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers both homered during regulation for Boston. The third game of the series was a 7–4 Boston win, with Nathan Eovaldi getting the win after holding the Rays to three runs in six innings. Christian Vázquez hit his 22nd home run of the season, going 3-for-5 with three RBIs. The final game of the series was won by the Rays, 7–4. The Red Sox led, 4–0, midway through the fourth inning; Tampa Bay then scored six in the bottom of the fourth, and held Boston scoreless for the rest of the game.
The opener of this three-game series was won by the Red Sox, 12–10, with Eduardo Rodríguez earning his 19th win of the season, despite allowing seven runs in five innings. Mookie Betts hit his 29th home run of the season, giving the team 238 homers for the season, tying the franchise record set by the 2003 Red Sox.[109][110] Boston won the second game of the series, 10–3, with starter Rick Porcello improving his record on the season to 14–12. A third-inning home run by Christian Vázquez was the team's 239th of the season, setting a new franchise record.[111]Mitch Moreland and Rafael Devers added homers in later innings. The final game of the series was won by the Rangers, 7–5. Jackie Bradley Jr. and Chris Owings each homered for the Red Sox. This was Boston's final road game of the season; the team had an overall 46–35 record in away games.
The final series of the season began with a 4–1 Baltimore win, as Boston's only run was driven in by Xander Bogaerts in the ninth inning. Baltimore also won the second game of the series, 9–4. Bogaerts and J. D. Martinez each homered for Boston. The final game of the season was a 5–4 Red Sox win, as Rafael Devers notched his 200th hit of the season.[112]Eduardo Rodríguez, going for his 20th win of the season, had to settle for a no decision. Mookie Betts scored the winning run in the bottom of the ninth inning, scoring all the way from first on a ground ball that went into right field.[113]
† Minimum 3.1 plate appearances per team games played AVG qualified batters: Benintendi, Betts, Bogaerts, Bradley, Devers, Martinez, Vázquez ‡ Minimum 1 inning pitched per team games played ERA & WHIP qualified pitchers: Porcello, Rodríguez
Note: W = Wins; L = Losses; ERA = Earned run average; G = Games pitched; GS = Games started; SV = Saves; IP = Innings pitched; H = Hits allowed; R = Runs allowed; ER = Earned runs allowed; BB = Walks allowed; SO = Strikeouts
July 13: Boston acquired pitcher Andrew Cashner (and cash considerations) from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for minor league position players Noelberth Romero and Elio Prado.[120]
September 1: The team activated pitcher Jhoulys Chacín when rosters expanded; Chacín had been signed to a minor league contract on August 31,[123] after being released by the Milwaukee Brewers on August 26.[124]
Amateur draft
Boston's top ten selections in the 2019 MLB draft, which started on June 3, are listed below.[125] The team did not have a first-round pick, due to being more than $40 million over the MLB luxury tax threshold.[126]
† The August 7 game was suspended in the top of the 10th inning due to rain, and was subsequently completed on August 22. All game statistics are considered by MLB to have occurred on the original game date of August 7. August 22 attendance information is as announced by the Red Sox.[131]
† Martinez was subsequently named to start the All-Star Game due to an injury to Hunter Pence.[144]
Jackie Bradley Jr., Andrew Benintendi, and Christian Vazquez were also finalists for Rawlings Gold Glove Awards.[145]Eduardo Rodríguez finished sixth in Cy Young Award voting.[146] In AL MVP voting, Xander Bogaerts finished fifth, Mookie Betts eighth, Rafael Devers 12th, and J. D. Martinez was tied for 21st.[147]
Jackie Bradley Jr.'s over-the-wall catch of a Trey Mancini drive on May 8 was selected as number one on the list of MLB Network's Top 100 Plays of 2019, while number two on the list was an over-the-wall catch by Stevie Wilkerson on a drive that Bradley hit on September 29 at Fenway Park.[148]
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