Ranger Suarez silences Orioles as Gasper's power surge carries Red Sox to 1-0 win

A few days ago, cracks were beginning to show in a Red Sox rotation that has spent much of the summer trying to survive an endless string of injuries.

Two nights in Baltimore have provided a much-needed response.

After Jake Bennett settled things down Thursday, Ranger Suarez looked like his first-half All-Star self Friday, tossing seven scoreless innings as the Red Sox edged the Orioles, 1-0, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards.

Mickey Gasper provided the only run with yet another home run, while Garrett Whitlock and Aroldis Chapman finished off Boston’s second straight win to begin the four-game series.

For Suarez, the performance came at an important time as the left-hander entered Friday with a 5.01 ERA over his previous seven starts and had struggled to regain his form since suffering a left groin strain July 5. With the postseason approaching, the Red Sox need the pitcher who earned an All-Star selection during the first half.

On Friday night, Suarez scattered five hits and one walk while striking out three over seven scoreless innings. He threw 61 of 91 pitches for strikes and completed seven innings for the first time since tossing eight against the Tigers at Fenway Park on April 17.

“I can’t say enough,” Chad Tracy said. “We needed that as a team but also for him, that was a good one.”

Gasper supplied Boston’s entire offense three batters into the game after the 29-year-old jumped on a 93.9 mph fastball Shane Baz left over the middle of the plate and drove it 375 feet to right field, giving the Red Sox a 1-0 lead.

“That was special. He picked us up,” Gasper told NESN’s Jahmai Webster postgame. “It wasn’t our best night offensively just in terms of finishing an inning and getting some runs, and Ranger went out there and pitched incredible.”

A 27th-round pick out of Bryant University in 2018, Gasper spent six seasons in the minors before reaching the majors. He was designated for assignment by the Twins and Nationals during a 14-day span in January.

Now he’s batting second for the Red Sox in September and has hit eight home runs in his last 16 games.

“He’s been awesome, I keep saying it and I’m running out of words,” Tracy told reporters in Baltimore. “What he’s done in his opportunities and what he’s doing over the course of the last two weeks, he’s helping us big time win baseball games and his at bats have been awesome.”

Throughout the course of the night, Boston had opportunities to give Suarez some breathing room but couldn’t capitalize.

Caleb Durbin grounded out with runners on first and second to end the sixth, then struck out looking with a runner aboard in the eighth. Durbin is just 6-for-40 with nine strikeouts over his last 13 games, a notable slump for a contact-oriented hitter whose offensive turnaround played an important role in Boston’s resurgence.

Trevor Story also struck out with two runners aboard to end the eighth, but his return from the injured list continues to look much different from his rehab assignment. Story singled Friday and has recorded a hit in all five games since returning, going 8-for-20 with four doubles.

Eli White has also made the most of his increased opportunity while Ceddanne Rafaela deals with a tight quad. White has a hit in both games of the series after his two-out double helped Boston tie Thursday’s opener in the seventh.

White flashed the leather when Luis Robert Jr. smoked a 112.4 mph liner to center to end the third, but White tracked it down to help Suárez escape the inning without damage.

Suarez handled the first seven innings himself before Whitlock took over in the eighth.

That’s when an otherwise quiet night suddenly became heated between the two clubs. With a runner on first, Whitlock induced Robert into a 6-4-3 double play to end the inning. Blaze Alexander slid into second on the play, and Sogard looked back at him afterward.

Within moments, the benches and bullpens had emptied, with Story and Alexander among those exchanging heated words as both teams gathered on the infield.

“He slid in pretty hard, I didn’t have a problem with the slide but we turned the double play, I was just looking back to see how far he went, I don’t know if he liked me looking back,” Sogard said. “That was pretty much it.”

Tracy was just as puzzled as anyone about what exactly sparked the benches-clearing incident.

“I’m trying to figure it out myself,” Tracy said when asked what happened. “There was some chirping towards our guys so I looked like, ‘What’s going on?’ Not a big deal, not a huge thing, it’s one of those things where everybody is out there and it looks bigger than it is.”

Ultimately, Tracy downplayed the confrontation, which resulted in both teams being issued warnings but no ejections.

Chapman took over in the ninth and protected the one-run lead, completing Boston’s shutout and making Gasper’s first-inning swing stand up all night.

The Red Sox will now turn to Sonny Gray on Saturday with a chance to secure the series.

Gray (16-4, 2.82 ERA) will face Chris Bassitt (6-4, 4.97 ERA) at 7:05 p.m. as Boston looks to clinch the four-game set with a third straight victory.

The veteran right-hander will pitch on nine days of rest after allowing six earned runs over 11 innings in his previous two starts. Boston recently took a similar approach with Jake Bennett, who has responded by posting a 2.84 ERA over 19 innings in three starts since receiving eight days between outings.

Injury Updates

Rafaela improving

Rafaela missed his second straight game Friday because of tightness in his right quad, though Tracy said the outfielder is improving. 

“He’s better today, so it’s improved,” Tracy said. “But again not in a position where I’m running him out there until I hear he’s in a really, really good spot. So like we’re seeing improvements, which is good.”

The Red Sox haven’t completely ruled out Rafaela returning Saturday, though Tracy acknowledged it is unlikely. Boston’s decision not to place him on the injured list reflects some optimism that the absence will be brief.

“I would say it’s unlikely, for sure,” Tracy said. “But I think the fact that we didn’t do an IL is hope on our part, especially with the roster expanded, that we can avoid that.”

Houck nearing rehab assignment

Tanner Houck could take another significant step toward returning to the Red Sox next week.

The right-hander is tentatively scheduled to begin a rehab assignment with Double-A Portland on Tuesday after throwing two innings in a simulated game Friday in Fort Myers. Houck threw one inning, sat down and then returned for a second.

“It’s pending him feeling good coming in tomorrow,” Tracy said.

Houck, who underwent Tommy John surgery in August 2025, is currently scheduled to pitch one inning for the Sea Dogs on Tuesday before the Red Sox determine his next step.

“And then we’ll see how it goes and go from there on the back end of the week,” Tracy said.

With just 23 days remaining in the regular season, there isn’t enough time for Boston to fully build Houck back up as a starter. If the 30-year-old returns this season, the Red Sox are preparing for him to work out of the bullpen.

“I think the goal, pending everything going well, would be to get him up for a two-up, like 45-pitch outing,” Tracy said. “Obviously he threw a lot of sides, lives that were all the 40-plus pitch variety. So he’s got some volume accumulated there, which is good. But just based on the calendar and the days off you need in between outings, I don’t think we’re going to be able to get him stretched out to a starter role.”

Crochet throws first bullpen

Garrett Crochet also reached an important checkpoint Friday, throwing his first bullpen session since being sidelined with left shoulder inflammation.

Crochet, who hasn’t pitched in a game since April 25, threw 16 pitches, all fastballs.

“Came out of it fine,” Tracy said. “See how he recovers and I think he’d be scheduled for another one on Tuesday.”

Whether Crochet has enough time to return before the end of the season remains uncertain, but simply getting back on a mound represents significant progress.

“The fact that he got off the mound today and threw a bullpen is a really, really good sign,” Tracy said. “I know that doesn’t necessarily answer the question. It’s hard to say at this point. But I think the fact that he’s throwing sides right now, the goal is by the end of the season to get him out there if we can. But we’ve got more boxes to check.”

Oviedo could begin rehab assignment

Johan Oviedo threw live batting practice Friday at JetBlue Park as he continues working back from a right elbow strain that has kept him on the injured list since April 3.

The right-hander is scheduled to throw a side session Tuesday. If that goes well, a rehab assignment could follow late next week. 

“And then looking towards the end of next week, if everything goes well with him, to potentially do a rehab game or something like that,” Tracy said.

Guerrero resumes throwing

Tyron Guerrero also resumed throwing Friday after landing on the injured list Sept. 1 with right shoulder inflammation.

The right-handed reliever is scheduled to throw again Saturday before Boston determines the next step in his progression.

“We’ll see where he’s at and then just kind of slowly work him back to sides and maybe a live,” Tracy said.