Boston Red Sox providing unexpected spark of hope
By Max Bozicas
Nobody thought it could get worse for the Boston Red Sox after the 2020 season, but things really didn’t look that much better for them after the first three games of 2021 in which they got swept by the Baltimore Orioles. Since then, they’ve ripped off five straight wins.
It’s way too early in the season to get overly excited about anything, but one could honestly make the argument that the Red Sox are already a step up from last year. At no point in 2020 did the team show any sort of capability to pull off a win streak of this caliber.
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They’ve also found ways to win through some adversity, particularly in Saturday’s contest against Baltimore in which they were without their best hitter in J.D. Martinez, and were down a run going into the top of the ninth inning.
However, they tied it in the ninth and scored two in the 10th to win their second extra-innings game of the young season.
The lineup has really taken off, as the Red Sox are averaging 7.8 runs per game during this win streak. With an improved starting rotation, that type of production should translate to a lot more wins if they keep it up.
Can the Boston Red Sox win the AL East?
It seems crazy to even think about, but the Boston Red Sox have sole possession of first place in the AL East currently. Again, it’s very early, but comparing their level of competitiveness and energy on the field to the other four teams in the division at the moment would indicate that it is not a fluke.
For a team that we didn’t expect much of coming into the year, it certainly is nice to see the Red Sox have a pulse again. The return of Alex Cora is definitely a factor, as the team always plays hard for him.
However, we can’t forget to give chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom credit as well. The complementary pieces the team signed in the offseason appear to be fitting in very well so far.
Next. Martinez, Vazquez off to hot starts. dark
A competitive baseball team in Boston is what this city needs right now following a rough football season and in the midst of a middling basketball season. Hopefully, the Red Sox continue to deliver an entertaining product, because it will be another long summer for Boston sports if they don’t.