Final: Red Sox 5, Texas Rangers 4 (10) - Red Sox snap 4 game losing streak with walk off hit from Rob Refsnyder

Trevor's Game Notes:

Walk Off Win: The Red Sox erase their 4 game losing streak with a walk-off victory against the Texas Rangers. Going into the 7th inning with a 3-1 lead, it wasn't an easy end to the game for Boston. After a 6 inning quality start from Brayan Bello, Alex Cora turned to his bullpen bringing Zack Kelly into the game. Kelly was not the only pitcher that Boston used this inning, as Cora made another call to the pen selecting Left-hander Bailey Horn to pitch against Left-handed hitter Corey Seager. In just one pitch, the two-time World Series MVP tied the game with a 2-run home run into right field. Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen would both make scoreless appearances in the 8th and 9th inning, bringing the game to extra innings. Despite facing the minimum amount of batters, Josh Winckowski gave the Rangers a 4-3 lead with the ghost runner, Marcus Semien, making his way home from consecutive fielder's choice situation. In the bottom of the 10th, Cora elected to pinch hit Enmanuel Valdez to start the inning. Valdez would tie the game with a ground rule double deep into center field, and Nick Sogard followed with a bloop single putting runners on the corners. Cora used his entire bench in this contest, making Mickey Gasper his final pinch hitter in the game. In his first MLB at-bat, Gasper walked, loading the bases with 1 out. After a failed attempt from Masataka Yoshida to end the game, Rob Refsnyder hit a single into the outfield against Left-handed pitcher Walter Pennington to give Boston the 5-4 win.

Great Start: The Red Sox wouldn't have won this game if it weren't for their starter Brayan Bello. The 25 year old pitched 6 innings allowing 1 earned run with 5 K's. Bello cruised through the first 4 innings of the game before facing some turbulence in the 5th where he allowed his only run of the game. Cora allowed Bello to pitch one more inning, and Boston's starter gave his manager a 1-2-3 outing to end his day,

Boston will continue their series against the Rangers tomorrow at 7:10 p.m.

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WHO: Red Sox (61-55) vs. Texas Rangers (55-63)
WHEN: 7:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park, Boston
SERIES TO DATE:  2-1 (0-0/2-1)
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Brayan Bello (10-5, 5.16) vs. RHP Tyler Mahle (0-1, 1.80)
TV/RADIO: ESPN, WEEI-FM 93.7

LIVE BOX

LINEUPS

RED SOX

David Hamilton (L) SS
Masataka Yoshida (L) DH
Rob Refsnyder (R) LF
Rafael Devers (L) 3B
Connor Wong (R) C
Wilyer Abreu (L) RF
Dominic Smith (L) 1B
Nick Sogard (S) 2B
Ceddanne Rafaela (R) CF

SP Brayan Bello

RANGERS

Marcus Semien (R) 2B
Corey Seager (L) SS
Josh Smith (L) 3B
Adolis García (R) RF
Nathaniel Lowe (L) 1B
Josh Jung (R) DH
Wyatt Langford (R) LF
Jonah Heim (S) C
Leody Taveras (S) CF

SP Tyler Mahle

WHAT'S UP

The Red Sox have lost their last 4 games, tying their longest losing streak of 2024 (4x, prev.: 7/19-22). They're 6-6 in their last 12 games and 8-13 in 21 games following the All-Star break.

The Red Sox were swept by HOU in a 3-game series over the weekend, snapping a 3-series winning streak and falling to 19-14-5 in series play. Boston was swept for the 4th time this year.

Jarren Duran is suspended for 2 games after using a homophobic slur directed at a fan in yesterday's loss to Houston. David Hamilton will now lead off for the Red Sox, being only the third player to do so for the team this year (Duran and Romy Gonzalez). This is the first game Duran will miss this year.

“I’m a terrible leader,” Duran said inside the Red Sox clubhouse Monday. “I shouldn’t have said that word and I know I’m going to get looked down on for saying it. It’s my own fault because I brought it upon myself.” Cora said Duran “made a big mistake” but he doesn’t view the leadoff hitter as a terrible leader.

With Duran suspended and Tyler O’Neill on the injured list with a leg infection, the Red Sox will turn to a different-looking outfield against Mahle. Rob Refsnyder is in left field with Ceddanne Rafaela in center and Wilyer Abreu in right. Mahle is making his second start of the season after recovering from Tommy John surgery, which he underwent last May.

Righty Brayan Bello is back with the team and will start after spending the last three days on the paternity list. In his last outing on Aug. 6 in Kansas City, the righty allowed three runs on five hits while striking out six batters in just 4 ⅔ innings.