Red Sox Rally Past Rays 7-6, Win Streak Hits 12 Games

Published: Jul 18, 2026, 08:26 PM ET

What Happened in the Game?

On Saturday, the Boston Red Sox played against the Tampa Bay Rays. The Red Sox were losing, but they made a big comeback and won 7-6. This win made their winning streak reach 12 games in a row — that means they haven’t lost for 12 straight games!

Wilyer Abreu Was the Star

• Wilyer Abreu hit two home runs (a home run is when a batter hits the ball out of the playing area and gets to run around all the bases to score).
• His second home run came in the 7th inning. It was a "go-ahead" hit, meaning it put his team in the lead for the first time. It also brought in two runs.
• Because of these two homers, Abreu has hit 4 home runs in just 2 games.
• He also hit two home runs on Friday night during the second game of a doubleheader (that’s two games played on the same day), which Boston also won.

How the Red Sox Came Back

Here is how Boston wiped out a 6-3 deficit (being behind by 3 runs) in the 7th inning:

1. Ceddanne Rafaela hit a double (a hit that lets him reach second base) that brought in 1 run.
2. Masataka Yoshida hit a groundout (a soft hit on the ground) that brought in another run.
3. Abreu then hit his big two-run home run off pitcher Garrett Cleavinger.
   • This four-run inning flipped the score from 6-3 (Rays ahead) to 7-6 (Red Sox ahead).

Important Point: The Red Sox’s 12-game winning streak ties the third longest in their team’s history. They have a chance on Sunday to win 13 in a row for the first time since 1948!

Pitching Helps Seal the Win

• Ryan Watson pitched for 2 innings and got his first ever win in the major leagues (the top level of pro baseball). His record is now 1-0.
• Aroldis Chapman got the last 3 batters out and earned his 21st save of the year (a save means a reliever finishes the game to protect a small lead).

How the Rays Scored Their Runs

Tampa Bay didn’t go down easy. Here’s how they built their lead:

• In the 2nd inning, they went up 2-0 after a throwing mistake by Boston’s second baseman and an RBI single (a hit that brings a runner home).
• Jahmai Jones tied it 2-2 with a two-run homer in the bottom of that inning. (A smart challenge by Andruw Monasterio on a bad strike call kept the inning alive!)
• In the 4th inning, the Rays jumped ahead 6-3 with 3 runs, including a home run by Victor Mesa Jr. and a run-scoring hit by Yandy Diaz.
• Jonny DeLuca hit a homer over the famous "Green Monster" (a big wall in Boston’s park) in the 7th to make it 6-3 Rays.

Other Notable Info

• Boston’s Patrick Sandoval made his second start after missing all of last year due to Tommy John surgery (an operation on the elbow for pitchers). He gave up 5 runs in 5 innings.
• Rays starter Ian Seymour only lasted 3 innings, allowing 3 runs and 2 homers.
• With this win, Boston’s record is now 49-48 — above the .500 mark (more wins than losses) for the first time since their very first game of the season against the Cincinnati Reds.

Summary

The Boston Red Sox beat the Tampa Bay Rays 7-6 on Saturday thanks to Wilyer Abreu’s two home runs, including the go-ahead shot in the 7th. The team extended its winning streak to 12 games — tying a franchise record — and moved above .500 for the first time this season. Rookie pitcher Ryan Watson got his first MLB win, and the Sox will go for 13 straight wins on Sunday.

FAQ

Q: What is a home run?
A: A home run is when the batter hits the ball out of the field of play, letting him jog around all four bases and score a run — sometimes with other runners already on base scoring too.

Q: What does "winning streak" mean?
A: It means a team keeps winning games one after another without losing. Here, the Red Sox have won 12 games in a row.

Q: Who is Wilyer Abreu?
A: He is a Boston Red Sox player who hit two home runs in this game and four total across two games, helping his team come back to win.

Q: What is the "Green Monster"?
A: It’s the large green wall in left field at the Red Sox’s home stadium in Boston. Hitters sometimes hit home runs over it.

The Associated Press contributed to this report.