Red Sox let late lead slip away, fall to Athletics as series streak ends

The Red Sox had a chance to do something Sunday that only one team in franchise history had accomplished.

Instead, their two most reliable relievers let a late lead slip away.

Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman combined to surrender runs in the eighth and ninth innings as the Red Sox fell to the Athletics, 4-3, at Fenway Park, dropping their second straight game after a nine-game winning streak.

The loss also snapped Boston’s streak of nine consecutive series victories. A win Sunday would have made the Red Sox just the second team in franchise history to win 10 straight series, leaving the 1912 club, which won 11 consecutive series from Aug. 4 through Sept. 15, alone atop the record book.

Boston carried a 3-2 lead into the eighth after piecing together a strong afternoon in a rare bullpen game.

But Whitlock, who had allowed just one earned run over his previous 19 appearances, couldn’t protect it.

Jonah Heim drove a ball toward the left-field warning track that Jarren Duran leaped for but couldn’t bring in. The 302-foot, 90.5 mph double brought home the tying run and handed Whitlock just his second earned run allowed over his last 20 outings.

Then came Chapman in the ninth and the veteran left-hander quickly retired the first two batters before Alika Williams singled and then pinch-runner Donovan Walton stole second. Max Muncy followed with a two-out double, scoring Walton and putting the Athletics ahead, 4-3.

The Red Sox weren't down and out just yet. 

Jahmai Jones pinch-hit for Duran and singled to open the bottom of the ninth. After Eli White struck out, Caleb Durbin drew a walk to put the tying run in scoring position with one out.

Nick Sogard grounded into a force at third before Ceddanne Rafaela smoked a 101.8 mph liner to left field for the final out.

White was in the middle of nearly everything for Boston.

Acquired from Atlanta at the trade deadline, White finished with three hits and drove in Boston’s first run with an RBI single in the second. He also helped spark the two-run fifth inning that briefly put the Red Sox ahead.

With Boston trailing 2-1, White dropped down a bunt single and then raced to third when Jake Rogers executed a hit-and-run single through the vacated left side of the infield. Sogard followed with another bunt, and an errant throw home by Athletics starter T.J. Ginn allowed White to score the tying run.

Wilyer Abreu, back in the lineup as the designated hitter after sitting Saturday with swelling in his lower leg, followed with a sacrifice fly to give Boston a 3-2 lead.

White also found himself involved in the Athletics' go-ahead rally in the fourth. Tyler Soderstrom lined a ball down the right-field line, and White slid toward the wall in an attempt to make the play. The ball skipped past him into the corner, allowing Soderstrom to reach third with a leadoff triple. He scored on Tommy White’s groundout to put the A’s ahead, 2-1.

For most of the afternoon, Boston’s bullpen plan worked.

Trade-deadline addition Erik Miller opened the game and had to work around his own throwing error after Jacob Wilson’s bunt single put runners at second and third with nobody out. Miller limited the damage to one run while striking out two.

Brayan Bello followed with four strong innings, allowing just one run while striking out four. Tyron Guerrero worked a perfect sixth, and Jovani Morán did the same in the seventh.

That gave the Red Sox exactly what they wanted: a one-run lead with Whitlock and Chapman lined up for the final six outs. This time, their two most reliable relievers couldn’t finish it off.

After rolling through one of the hottest stretches in franchise history, Boston dropped consecutive games to the Athletics and saw another chance at history disappear with it.

The Athletics won back-to-back games for the first time since June 25-26 and snapped a 12-series losing streak. They’ve also enjoyed some recent success at Fenway Park, winning four of their last six games there.

Wilson made history in the process, extending his errorless streak at shortstop to 111 games to surpass former Orioles shortstop Mike Bordick’s previous MLB record, set in 2002. Wilson hasn’t committed an error since July 6, 2025.

The streak is part of a strong defensive season for Wilson, whose eight Outs Above Average rank ninth among MLB shortstops. He also ranks ninth at the position in Fielding Run Value after posting negative Outs Above Average in each of his first two seasons.

Jeff McNeil also reached a career milestone Sunday, collecting his 1,000th major league hit in the eighth inning.

For the Red Sox, the offense cooled considerably over the final two games of the series. Boston scored three runs or fewer for just the third time in its last 14 games dating back to July 26, and did so in consecutive games for the first time since late June against the Nationals. The Sox went just 3-for-21 (.143) with runners in scoring position over the final two games and failed to homer in either.

Boston will now head north of the border for a four-game series against Toronto beginning Monday. Sonny Gray (14-2, 2.78 ERA) will get the ball against Blue Jays right-hander Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.96 ERA). 

Rutschman Could Join Red Sox Tuesday

Red Sox catcher Adley Rutschman will fly to Toronto with the team Sunday night and work out with his new teammates Monday, putting him in position to potentially be activated as soon as Tuesday.

Rutschman wrapped up his brief rehab assignment with Triple-A Worcester on Sunday, serving as the designated hitter and playing all nine innings at Polar Park. He went 0-for-3 with a strikeout.

The three-time All-Star finishes his two-game stint with the WooSox 1-for-5 (.200) with two RBI. His lone hit was a two-run double Saturday, when he also drew two walks and caught five innings.

Rutschman has been on the injured list since July 20 with left wrist inflammation.