Red Sox Survive Late Rally, Edge A’s 4-2 in Tight Duel
Red Sox Win Extra-Inning Thriller Over Athletics in West Sacramento
What Happened in West Sacramento?
The Boston Red Sox beat the Athletics 4-2 on Wednesday night in a game that went into extra innings (that’s like overtime in baseball). The game was played at Sutter Health Park in West Sacramento, California — which is currently the Athletics’ home stadium.
The Game-Changing Moment: 10th Inning Heroics
The game was tied 2-2 after nine regular innings. In baseball, when teams are tied after nine innings, they play extra innings until someone wins. Here’s how Boston pulled it off:
- Extra-inning rule: Each extra inning starts with a runner already on second base. For the Red Sox, that runner was Romy Gonzalez.
- The big swing: Andrew Monasterio stepped up to the plate with Gonzalez on second.
- The count: Monasterio got ahead in the count 2-0 (that means two balls, zero strikes — a great spot for a hitter).
- The hit: He crushed a fastball from Athletics pitcher Jose Suarez over the fence for a two-run home run.
- The result: That made it 4-2 Red Sox, and they held on to win!
Important Point: Many fans wearing Red Sox jerseys were cheering loudly — even though this was technically the Athletics’ home stadium!
Key Players Who Shined
For the Red Sox:
| Player | What They Did |
|---|---|
| Andrew Monasterio | 3 hits total, including the game-winning 2-run HR in the 10th |
| Caleb Durbin | 3 hits, scored the tying run in the 6th inning |
| Jahmal Jones | Hit a home run |
| Aroldis Chapman | Got the win in his 900th career appearance (wow!) |
| Greg Weissert | Pitched a perfect 10th inning for his first save of the season |
For the Athletics:
| Player | What They Did |
|---|---|
| Jonah Heim | 3 hits + a home run, including the 500th hit of his career |
| Lawrence Butler | Hit his 6th home run of the season (first since June 19) |
| Tommy White | Dropped a foul ball that led to Boston’s tying run (tough luck!) |
How the Game Unfolded (Step by Step)
- Early innings: Both teams scored a run each, game tied 1-1.
- 5th inning: Athletics take the lead 2-1 when Lawrence Butler hits a solo home run off Red Sox starter Patrick Sandoval.
- 6th inning: Red Sox tie it 2-2 on an unearned run (that means a run that scored because of a fielding mistake, not a hit).
- Caleb Durbin led off with a single
- Tommy White (A’s third baseman) dropped a foul ball — that’s an error
- With two outs, Nick Sogard singled to score Durbin
- 7th–9th innings: Red Sox had lots of chances! They stranded six runners (left six teammates on base without scoring them) over three innings.
- 9th inning: Aroldis Chapman comes in, gives up a leadoff double, then retires three straight batters to keep it tied.
- 10th inning: Monasterio’s two-run homer puts Boston ahead 4-2.
- Bottom of 10th: Greg Weissert strikes out the side (gets three outs in a row) for the save.
Important Stats & Milestones
Callout: Cool Milestones From This Game
- Aroldis Chapman: 900th career game appearance
- Jonah Heim: 500th career hit (and it was a home run!)
- Greg Weissert: First save of the 2025 season
- Patrick Sandoval: Still looking for his first win since returning from Tommy John surgery (elbow ligament reconstruction surgery he had in 2024)
What’s Next?
The series wraps up Thursday with:
- Red Sox starter: Sonny Gray — he’s having an amazing season: 12 wins, 2 losses, 2.78 ERA (ERA = Earned Run Average, lower is better — 2.78 is excellent!)
- Athletics starter: Not announced yet
Quick Summary
- Final score: Red Sox 4, Athletics 2 (10 innings)
- Game-winning play: Andrew Monasterio 2-run HR in the 10th
- Standout performers: Monasterio (3 hits, game-winning HR), Durbin (3 hits), Chapman (win in 900th game), Heim (HR + 500th career hit)
- Key turning point: Tommy White’s error in the 6th let Boston tie the game
- Red Sox bullpen: Chapman + Weissert shut the door over the final two innings
- Next up: Sonny Gray takes the mound Thursday for Boston
FAQ
Q: What does "stranded six runners" mean?
A: It means the Red Sox got six players on base (via hits or walks) over three innings, but none of them scored. They were "left stranded" on the bases when the inning ended.
Q: What’s an "unearned run"?
A: A run that scores because of a defensive mistake (like an error), not because of a hit. If the defense had made the play, the run wouldn’t have scored. It doesn’t count against the pitcher’s ERA.
Q: Why did the 10th inning start with a runner on second base?
A: Since 2020, MLB uses this rule in extra innings to make games end faster. Each half-inning starts with the last batter from the previous inning placed on second base.
Q: What is Tommy John surgery?
A: It’s a surgery to repair a torn ligament in the elbow (the UCL). It’s very common for pitchers. Recovery takes 12–18 months. Patrick Sandoval had it in 2024 and is still working his way back.
Q: What’s a "save" in baseball?
A: A save goes to a relief pitcher who finishes a game for the winning team under specific conditions — usually entering with a lead of 3 runs or fewer and pitching at least one inning without losing the lead. Greg Weissert got his first of the year!
