A Number That Hasn’t Moved Since 1948
Most fans think winning 13 games in a row is a rare modern fluke. That idea is dead wrong. The Boston Red Sox just tied a record set nearly 80 years ago. According to ESPN, the team beat the Tampa Bay Rays 6-1 on Sunday to extend their streak to 13 straight wins. This specific number matches a 13-game run from July 1948. It is the second-longest winning streak in franchise history. Only one team in history went further. That was the 1946 squad that won 15 games in June.
The current roster is doing something that hasn’t happened in three generations. They are breathing life into a legacy that fans often forget. Sonny Gray was the engine that kept the machine running. He gave up just one run and five hits over six innings. His record now sits at 12 wins and one loss. He has not allowed more than three runs since April 14. This level of consistency is what separates good teams from great ones.
Runs Scored Without a Single Hit
The game against Tampa Bay proved that Boston wins in ugly ways too. The Rays took a 1-0 lead in the second inning on an inside-the-park homer. Victor Mesa Jr. made that play happen. But the Red Sox answered back immediately. Andruw Monasterio tied the score with an RBI double. Then came the strangest part of the night. Boston scored three more runs in the third inning without recording a single hit.
Jahmai Jones came home on a passed ball. Wilyer Abreu scored on a fielder’s choice. Junior Caminero’s throw hit Abreu in the back as he slid home. All runners advanced safely because of the chaos. Contreras scored from third on Romy Gonzalez’s groundout. The final score was 6-1. Willson Contreras sealed the deal in the fifth inning. He swung at the first pitch he saw for a two-run homer. The ball traveled 414 feet to the triangle in Fenway’s center field.
Rays starter Shane McClanahan struggled to find his rhythm. He allowed six runs on five hits in five innings. He struck out three batters and walked three others. His record dropped to 8-6 on the season. This loss capped a night where the Red Sox simply outplayed their opponent at every turn.
Why This Matters
This streak changes the entire mood around Fenway Park. Fans are starting to believe again after years of heartbreak. The team is showing they can win in different ways. They win with power. They win with grit. They even win with passed balls and errors. That versatility is the mark of a championship team.
The question now is whether they can break the 1946 record. Thirteen wins is huge. Fifteen wins would be legendary. The pressure will mount with every game. Sonny Gray has already proven he can handle the moment. Willson Contreras provides the power needed to close out tight games. The rest of the roster must stay focused.
One loss ends the streak instantly. The Rays will try to stop this run in the next game. But the Red Sox have the momentum now. They have the best pitching staff in the league right now. They have a lineup that scores runs in impossible situations. History is on the line. Can they go 15? The answer starts in the next game.
