Red Sox overcome travel chaos, win seventh behind Sonny Gray, fiery Anthony Seigler

The Red Sox overcame a chaotic travel day and continued their remarkable surge Friday night.

After being stranded in Chicago because of flight issues and not arriving in New York until just 2 hours and 40 minutes before first pitch, Boston shrugged off the travel headaches to beat the Mets, 6-2, for its seventh straight victory.

The win pushed the Red Sox to within 1 1/2 games of the final American League Wild Card spot, continuing one of baseball’s hottest stretches.

Boston improved to 12-2 over its last 14 games and moved to within four games of .500 for the first time since April 20, when it sat at 9-13.

Despite the unusual circumstances, Sonny Gray once again gave the Red Sox exactly what they needed.

The veteran right-hander wasn’t as overpowering as he has been throughout much of the season, but he battled through six innings, allowing one earned run on five hits while walking one and striking out three.

Gray heads into the All-Star break with an 11-1 record and a 2.54 ERA over 95 2/3 innings, further strengthening the argument that he belongs in Philadelphia. Unless another American League pitcher withdraws, however, he’ll remain one of the game’s biggest All-Star snubs.

Anthony Seigler continued to provide a spark at the top of Boston’s lineup.

Leading off the game, Seigler hit a fly ball that Juan Soto dropped in left field, allowing the rookie to hustle into second. He came around to score moments later on Masataka Yoshida’s two-run double.

Seigler delivered the biggest swing of the night in the seventh.

After Tsung-Che Cheng led off the inning with a single, Seigler hooked a two-run homer off the left-field foul pole, extending Boston’s lead to 4-1. It was the second home run of both his season and his major league career.

An animated Seigler celebrated every step around the bases, and it’s easy to see why.

Since being promoted, Seigler has injected energy into the Red Sox lineup, batting .297 with an .868 OPS through his first 20 major league games while emerging as one of Boston’s most unexpected contributors.

Yoshida’s first-inning double accounted for Boston’s first two runs.

The veteran designated hitter lined a two-out double into the gap, scoring Seigler and Wilyer Abreu after he had reached on a walk.

The two-time Gold Glove winner finished a triple shy of the cycle, walking, singling, doubling on a 111-mph rocket that narrowly missed leaving the yard, then adding a two-run homer off left-hander Cionel Pérez in the ninth inning.

The blast stretched Boston’s lead from 4-1 to 6-1.

It marked Abreu’s sixth three-hit game of the season and his first since June 12. His home run was also his first since June 24 in Colorado.

Mets rookie Nolan McLean deserved a better fate.

The right-hander limited Boston to two unearned runs over six innings, allowing five hits and two walks while striking out seven. But once he departed, the Red Sox immediately added insurance against New York’s bullpen.

Tyron Guerrero tossed a scoreless seventh before Garrett Whitlock worked around a pair of infield singles in the eighth. Whitlock induced three consecutive fly balls, the first two shallow enough to strand A.J. Ewing at third base and preserve Boston’s three-run advantage.

The Red Sox now sit just 1 1/2 games behind the final American League Wild Card spot and, depending on Toronto’s result against San Diego, could also climb into third place in the AL East before the night is over.

Boston has yet to announce a starter for Saturday as it looks to patch together a game in Ranger Suarez’s spot following his placement on the injured list. All signs point to it being Brayan Bello for Saturday's game in Queens. 

The Mets will counter with offseason acquisition Freddy Peralta (5-7, 4.68 ERA) in his final start before the All-Star break. First pitch is scheduled for 4:10 p.m. ET.

Another All-Star

The Red Sox’ All-Star contingent continues to grow.

Ceddanne Rafaela was named to the American League roster Saturday as an injury replacement for Yankees slugger Aaron Judge, giving Boston four representatives at next week’s Midsummer Classic in Philadelphia.

“I feel great. I’m excited... A lot of emotions,” Rafaela said at Citi Field. “I was happy. Then called my family with a couple of tears in my eyes. It’s just happiness.”

Rafaela learned of the honor while sitting with his teammates aboard the team plane on the tarmac in Chicago. Chad Tracy surprised the club by grabbing the intercom and announcing that the Gold Glove center fielder had been selected to his first All-Star Game, prompting a loud ovation from his teammates.

“That was another one we were watching closely because just seeing the year he has put up on both sides of the ball,” Tracy said. “That was awesome news to get today.

“A bunch of guys were standing there to smack him and give him a big hug. He put his head in his hands for quite a while, maybe some tears. It means a lot to him to be recognized in that way.”

In his third full major league season, the 25-year-old Rafaela has taken another step toward becoming one of the game’s most complete center fielders.

Entering Friday night’s game against the Mets, Rafaela was batting .283 with eight home runs, 39 RBI and a .767 OPSin 87 games. He’s also continued to shine defensively, ranking second among American League center fielders with 15 Defensive Runs Saved, while sitting tied for third in doubles (21) and triples (3) and 10th in the AL with 93 hits.

“It was special for me that the team was really excited for me,” Rafaela said. “That moment was special for sure.”

Rafaela joins Willson Contreras, Aroldis Chapman and Ranger Suarez as Boston’s All-Star representatives, although Suarez won’t be able to pitch after landing on the injured list Thursday with a left groin strain.

The Red Sox had hoped Gray would be selected as Suarez’s replacement after putting together one of the best first halves of any American League starter. Instead, MLB named Nick Martinez of the Rays to the roster Friday alongside Rafaela, leaving Gray on the outside looking in despite his 11-1 record and 2.54 ERA.

Encouraging News

The Red Sox received encouraging news Friday regarding rookie left-hander Connelly Early after he sought a second opinion from renowned orthopedic surgeon Dr. Keith Meister.

Early’s evaluation confirmed the club’s initial diagnosis. He is dealing with posterior elbow inflammation and irritation, with no structural damage that would require surgery at this time.

The rookie landed on the injured list after leaving his start against the Nationals on July 1 with left elbow discomfort following four scoreless innings.

“It confirmed the diagnosis we had with our people, which was good news,” Tracy said. “I haven’t gotten a chance to fully dive into all of that yet with everything that has gone on in the last 20 hours or whatever it has been, but I did hear at least that much, which is good news.”

While the diagnosis is certainly encouraging, the Red Sox still have not established a timetable for Early’s return. For now, the focus will be on reducing the inflammation before he begins a throwing program.

In the meantime, Boston will continue to rely on Patrick Sandoval, who made his long-awaited Red Sox debut Thursday.