Red Sox extend winning streak to eight games with dramatic 13-inning victory over White Sox
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-11 in 13 innings on Thursday, extending their current winning streak to eight games and matching the longest active streak in Major League Baseball.
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-11 in 13 innings on Thursday, extending their current winning streak to eight games and matching the longest active streak in Major League Baseball. Caleb Durbin secured the victory with a walk-off base hit in the 13th inning, capping a contest where the White Sox held the lead in nine separate innings before the Red Sox rallied to win.
The victory marks the eighth consecutive win for the Red Sox, who have posted a 31-5 record since June 24. This surge represents the greatest regular-season run in franchise history, which dates back to 1901 when the team was known as the Boston Americans. The turnaround is particularly notable given the team’s standing prior to this period; after a loss to the Colorado Rockies on June 24, the Red Sox held a 32-46 record and a 9% chance of making the playoffs.
Historically, the Red Sox’s performance places them among an elite group in post-integration MLB history (1947–present). Only three teams have achieved a 36-game stretch with an .850 or higher winning percentage, and unlike the other teams on that list, the Red Sox entered the streak with a losing record. The team’s offensive metrics have been strong during this run, ranking fifth in on-base percentage, fourth in slugging percentage, and third in runs scored since June 24.
The Red Sox bullpen has been a critical component of this success, leading the majors with a 2.89 earned run average. Led by Aroldis Chapman and Garrett Whitlock, the relief corps has provided stability despite the high-scoring nature of recent games. The team’s improved form has shifted their playoff outlook significantly, with SportsLine projecting a 96.2% chance for the Red Sox to make the playoffs.
Currently, the Red Sox sit in the second American League wild-card spot, half a game behind the New York Yankees. While they are five games back of the Tampa Bay Rays for the AL East lead, the team has swept the AL Central-leading White Sox. Projections from Fangraphs estimate a 15.3% chance for the Red Sox to win the American League and a 6.9% chance to win the World Series, reflecting their status as serious contenders in a league viewed as having a weaker competitive landscape compared to the National League.
