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Red Sox Facing Adversity (Again)

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TORONTO – (Wire Service Report) – The Toronto Blue Jays could be catching the visiting Boston Red Sox at the right time tonight in the opener of a four-game series. The Red Sox, who have been the hottest team in the majors for more than a month, are coming off two consecutive home losses to the lowly Athletics over the weekend. The 7-3 loss on Saturday snapped Boston’s nine-game winning streak, which came not long after a 15-game win streak from July 3-22.

It is the first time since June 30-July 1 that the Red Sox have lost two in a row.

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They still have won 27 of their past 32 games as they embark on a seven-game road trip following a 4-2 homestand.

“It’s been a minute,” Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said after a 4-3 loss on Sunday. “When the (15-game) winning streak ended, I was like, ‘We knew that was going to happen eventually,’ and I think in this case you probably knew this was going to happen eventually.

“You’re not going to win every single series the rest of the year. … You move on, tip your cap and move on to Toronto.”

The Red Sox are scheduled to start Sonny Gray (14-2, 2.78 ERA) in the series opener. The right-hander is 4-5 with a 3.31 ERA in 17 career games (16 starts) against the Blue Jays. In two starts against them this season, he is 0-1 with a 6.00 ERA.

Fellow righty Jameson Taillon (2-6, 5.96) is expected to make his second start with the Blue Jays on Monday after being acquired from the Chicago Cubs. In his Toronto debut on Wednesday, he allowed three runs on six hits in four innings against the Houston Astros, striking out four and walking two.

The right-hander is 3-1 with a 2.59 ERA in eight career starts against the Red Sox.

Boston will be facing a Toronto team which has little time to recover from a three-city, seven-game road trip which concluded over the weekend in Philadelphia.

While the Blue Jays finished the trip with a 4-3 record, they were forced to put a lot of tread on their tires with four of the games going to extra innings — including Sunday’s 7-6, 12-inning loss to the Phillies which prevented a Toronto sweep.

The Blue Jays are still holding out hope of making a serious run for the third American League wild-card spot, which is currently occupied by the Texas Rangers. The Blue Jays are 3 1/2 games behind Texas but also have four teams between them and the Rangers (plus the Seattle Mariners, who are currently tied with Toronto).

“Everybody still believes, from our front office all the way to our locker room,” Toronto designated hitter George Springer said. “We’re one good stretch away from being right where we want to be.”

“This could be our season,” added Ernie Clement, who had an RBI double on Sunday. “If we play really, really well, it’s going to put us in a great position. We’re just going to show up every day and try to take care of business.”

The series in Toronto is likely to see the Red Sox debut of catcher Adley Rutschman, who was obtained in a trade with the Baltimore Orioles on Aug. 3. Rutschman won’t play on Monday — instead having a workout day — but is expected to debut over the four-game set.

“Make sure he comes out of (the workout) OK and we’ll assess him after that,” Tracy said.

Rutschman has been on the injured list since July 19 with inflammation in his left wrist.

–Field Level Media

 

TL’s Sunday Sports Notes | August 9th

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor-in-Chief of Digital Sports Desk

CHESTNUT HILL – What would St. Ignatius do?

Saint Ignatius of Loyola was a Spanish Basque-region Catholic priest and theologian, who, with six companions, founded the religious order of the Society of Jesus, also known as the Jesuits. He became the order’s first Superior General, in Paris in 1541. Immediately afterward, Ignatius and his companions embarked on missions across Europe to create schools, colleges, and seminaries. The overarching Jesuit principle became: Ad maiorem Dei gloriam, translated from Latin to English, “For the greater glory of God.” Upon his death in 1556, a number of schools and college institutions were named after St. Ignatius of Loyola, one of them a parish on Long Island which included a grammar school by the same name, my alma mater.

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When you’re a student of that school, and all Jesuit instituations, you learn all about the Jesuit ideals, as do students at Boston College, an incredible college in every aspect.

Since we relocated to Massachusetts, Boston College – only about three miles and four short T stops away – has been our adopted go-to place for ACC football, for ice hockey, for basketball, for Welles and For Boston. If there’s a “Force” that guides Boston College, aside from the teachings of St. Ignatius, it was a force disrupted this week.

Said BC Athletics Director Blake James, a highly respected administrator: “Over the last 60 hours I’ve had to have a lot more conversations about radio announcers than I ever imagined that I would, or I’ve ever had before in my career.”

The topic at hand was the fact Boston College decided to part (not renew an expired one-year contract) with its college basketball radio announcers, Kevin Collins and Josh Maurer, 13-year stalwarts who called games through thick and thin, including last season’s 4-14, or 16th place in the ACC.

Back in the spring, BC made headlines by hiring Luke Murray, assistant coach to Danny Hurley at UConn who was a part of a couple NCAA titles. Murray had intersected with Hurley back in 2010 when Hurley headed up Wagner (Staten Island, NY). Murray is getting his first big opportunity and will begin his stint at BC this season after a typical long road as an assistant coach.

  • 2008–2009 Post (assistant)
  • 2009–2010 Arizona (Grad assitant)
  • 2010–2011 Wagner (assistant)
  • 2011–2013 Towson (assistant)
  • 2013–2015 Rhode Island (assistant)
  • 2015–2018 Xavier (assistant)
  • 2018–2021 Louisville (assistant)
  • 2021–2026 UConn (assistant)
  • 2026–present Boston College (head coach)

After Murray and Boston College won the proverbial introductory press conference and all was well in The Heights, things fell silent – as they always do – until BC Football concludes and the winter sports take center stage. At BC, that means men’s ice hockey as No. 1 and basketball as a distant No. 2 spectator sport.

But, as noted, there was a disturbance in the force this week, and it reverberated throughout the small, talk sports radio, gossip-driven sports and social media worlds of Greater Boston.

The main issue was Collins pouring his heart out in a tweet that noted his dream job and 13-year career as the radio announcer were cut down. In a story, first reported by the entertaining site, Awful Announcing and on X, Collins wrote:

<Easily the hardest tweet of my career. Love you @JoshMaurerPxP and sorry it had to end this way 💔 Huge thanks to Mike Winn, Josh Maurer, and Danya Abrams for supporting and empowering me over the last 13+ years.

I will always be an Eagle 🦅 #WeAreBC>

He went on:

According to reports in Awful Announcing, the broadcast crew had repeatedy asked about their status for new contracts. The feedback was a vague, “no change was coming,” an assurance that held from the end of March all the way until last week.

Word came down that their contracts would not be renewed, and – again – according to the report in Awful Announcing – the reasoning delivered to the pair, relayed through Deputy Athletic Director Craig Anderson, was that (Luke) Murray didn’t want anyone in the travel party who’d been part of what was described as the program’s “losing mentality” under the previous staff, despite neither broadcaster having any real relationship with the coaching staff itself beyond showing up to call games. When pressed on why the decision took months to reach them, given how long Murray had already been on the job, the answer was that the administration had only recently had the actual conversation with him about it.

“The reasoning that I was given was that Coach Murray basically wants a whole new fresh coat of paint on the entire program and wants no remnants of the past around the program,” Collins said. “We have nothing to do with any of that. But he wanted us removed. Didn’t feel comfortable being around a link to the past, if you will. My challenge was, well, how can he not feel comfortable around us? He hasn’t even given us the chance to meet us.”

The school, in PR control mode, went with two different philosophies – neither approved by St. Ignatius’ teachings.

“The decision to not renew the contracts of our men’s basketball radio announcers was made by Boston College Athletics administrators in consultation with our MMR (multi-media rights) partner. We wish both Kevin and Josh the best going forward.”

Terse to say the least, and it fueled a social media hailstorm.

A full day later, BC countered with another statement, but it was issued in a telephone call from James to Boston Globe reporter, Chad Finn:

“Luke did not make this decision, because he does not have the ability to make this decision,” said James in a telephone interview Wednesday afternoon. “If someone wanted to say it was my decision, yes, at the end of the day I approved it, and I take full responsibility for that.”

Of course that was James’ job to take full responsibility and fall on the sword for Boston College, but the statements and timing of the statements and actions made no sense as they began to contradict each other.

More questions came up, after the fact:

  1. If the two commentators were not going to have their jobs (via contracts being renewed), and the decision was made, why wouldn’t the school inform them in April so they’d have time to get a different job?
  2. Where was Luke Murray during this debacle? Was he involved and, if so, made available for interviews? In other words, Murray should face the music.
  3. For that matter, why weren’t the two announcers given the chance to meet Murray? And – in a face-to-face meeting – be given either a reason he wanted to cut ties or be given the chance to hear-out his philosophies and understand them going forward.
  4. In the process of dismissing a 13-year BC vet, why the awkward method of telephone line to text to non-verbal, direct communication, as opposed to this mixed-message ugly scene?

“I thought that if anything like this ever popped up, where my employment was in trouble, that [me, Anderson, and Winn] could have an adult conversation over a coffee and a cold beverage and hash it out on whether it was going to go one way or the other,” said Collins as quoted from his phone conversation with the Globe.

Lastly, after the fact, there was considerable speculation that the reason for the (non renewal method of firing) was an ill-fated X/tweet way back on March 17th that expressed legitimate concerns about hiring a coach with no head coaching experience.

“I have 2 questions (wrote Collins): 1.) are you comfortable with hiring a head coach with 0 head coaching experience? It’s one thing to do this at a low major and entirely different in the ACC. 2.) Kids are paid now. Recruiting is dead. Would his father bring in serious NIL for Boston College?”

The paper of record, errr, The Athletic tried to piece it all together in a story by Joe Rexrode on August 5. That story criss-crossed with the Globe story and laid out pieces of a puzzle that will never fit together and further confused he issue – which admittedly is not life or death in the year 2026.

But, remember, there was no comment from either Luke, or his even a quip by his father, comedian and actor Bill Murray.

In conclusion, there’s a perfect quote from Luke’s famous father, Bill, via his wonderful appearance in the motion picture, STRIPES, and it answers the question at the root of the issue: “Are Collins and Maurer gone?”

“That’s the FACT, Jack.”

PS: In answer to the opening question of this column, St. Ignatius would get everybody involved in the same room and hash it out.

HERE NOW, THE NOTES: LIV golf CEO Scott O’Neil emerged from a summit to announce that the upstart – once Saudi PIF based – entity will remain afloat after an investor stepped up to fund it against expected short term additional potential losses.

“LIV Golf has an agreement in place with a lead investor, signed by the investor and approved by the board, to anchor the transaction and play a key role in supporting the path forward for the league’s next era, driven by and for the players,” O’Neil said in a statement. “We’re also seeing strong interest from more than a dozen additional parties to potentially serve as minority investors, creating a multi-partner model built for long-term stability and growth.”

The minority investors expressed interest if there were a main, primary investor to assure solid ground in the year(s) to come.

The specific investors were not identified, nor the amount of money to be injected into the league. LIV Golf said it hopes to finalize terms in the coming weeks and close the transaction in September.

The Saudi-based PIF reportedly spent more than $5 billion funding the league over the past five seasons, according to multiple media outlets in the golf industry. That included signing some of the biggest and most succesful PGA Tour pros to contracts, complete with multi-million dollar signing bonuses.

The final weeks of the LIV Golf season were in doubt until O’Neal’s press conference prior to this week’s event at Trump National in Bedminster, New Jersey.

TIDBITS & NUGGETS: After three successful years in Singapore, the FIBA Intercontinental Cup is now starting a new chapter in its 60-year long history, with the event moving to Beijing, China for the first time. This year, the event will be played in September, according to a recent FIBA newsletter. The format remains the same in terms of the number of teams represented, with six teams split into two groups of three teams. The top two teams from each group will move to the Semi-Finals, with the winners facing off in the Championship Game on September 27.

TWO-WAY OR BACK-to-SCHOOL? Former St. John’s University wing, Dillon Mitchell was drafted by Boston back in June. Mitchell performed very well for the Celtics Summer League team and it was thought he’d be signed to a guaranteed NBA contract right away. Not so fast thought the Celtics, as their roster is stacked with versatile players, many in their first few years. That includes the Celtics’ 2026 first round pick, Chris Cenac Jr., a 6-11 stretch-five who can shoot it. Cenac hit 2.2 three-point FGs per game and shot 33% from behind the arc while at the University of Houston this past year. He’s a defensive force, protecting the rim, and is just what the Celtics needed going into the 2026-27 season. Yet, Cenac is only 19 years old and has room to mature and grow.

In Mitchell’s case, the rumors were flowing that 6-8 Mitchell might return to school as the latest ruling – for and against the NCAA – allowed players in Mitchell’s situation to gain a fifth year of college eligibility, even though he was the 40th overall pick in the draft by Boston and stood out in the NBA Summer League, averaging 13.0 points and 5.0 rebounds with a slew of steals and blocks.

Nope. No more BIG EAST and playing under St. John’s coach Rick Pitino. Instead, Mitchell signed a two-way contract with the Celtics this week.

LUNCH? – Would you like to sit down for lunch with UCLA/NBA Legend and front office executive Kiki VanDeWeghe for a face-to-face conversation in New York City, shared with up to three guests? VanDeWeghe enjoyed a distinguished 13-year NBA career as a prolific scorer for the Denver Nuggets, Portland Trail Blazers, New York Knicks, and Los Angeles Clippers, earning two NBA All-Star selections along the way. After retiring, he transitioned seamlessly into the front office, serving as General Manager of the Nuggets and later as the NBA’s Executive Vice President of Basketball Operations, making him one of the most well-rounded execs in the game on both sides of the hardwood. The offer from the auction lot via online auction house Charity Buzz offers a rare chance to connect personally with a man who has shaped professional basketball for decades. Whether you’re a lifelong fan, an aspiring basketball professional, or simply someone who appreciates this extraordinary access avenue, this lunch delivers an experience that goes well beyond the ordinary. It’s sure to be a candid, unhurried afternoon (two hours) with one of basketball’s most accomplished insider, the kind of access that simply isn’t available anywhere else. Site of restaurant was not named, but it is in NYC. … The auction expires in 11 days.

GRAND PRIX: If lunch with Kiki doesn’t do the job, how about an experience of a lifetime at the F-1 Grand Prix race in Abu Dhabi? Experience the excitement of the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix with an exclusive package for two, including a 4-night stay at a luxurious 5-star hotel. Located on Yas Leisure Drive, this experience places you at the heart of one of the most prestigious events on the Formula 1 calendar. On this auction, time is of essence as the clock is ticking down to deadline.

The brochure for Charity Buzz reads: “Enjoy four nights of luxury accommodations with daily breakfast included, providing the perfect base for an unforgettable Grand Prix weekend. Immerse yourself in the atmosphere of Formula 1 racing and take advantage of access to concerts and pit walks, available on a first-come, first-served basis. This Experience for two includes:

  • 4-night stay at a 5-star hotel in Abu Dhabi
  • Daily breakfast
  • Access to the 2026 Abu Dhabi Grand Prix
  • Access to concerts and pit walks
  • Airfare is NOT included

PGA Tour: Brennan’s Surge to Co-Lead

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GREENSBORO – Michael Brennan posted five birdies across the final eight holes to shoot 7-under-par 63 on Saturday and move into a share of the lead with Beau Hossler through three rounds of the Wyndham Championship in North Carolina.

Hossler, who was the second-round leader, finally finished his round of 66 following two late-round weather-related pauses at Sedgefield Country Club.

The duo is level at 16-under 194 to co-lead by one shot entering Sunday’s final round.

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Brennan’s lone bogey came on the second hole before he got rolling.

Hossler’s best finish this year was a tie for third place at the Myrtle Beach Classic in May. Still seeking his first career win on tour, he has twice been runner-up when losing in playoffs and finished second four total times.

South Korea’s Tom Kim also shot 63 and sits at 15 under in third place.

Alex Smalley (65) and Sweden’s Alex Noren (65) are at 14 under, while Davis Thompson (65) is in sixth place at 13 under.

Colombia’s Nico Echavarria’s 62 marked the best score of the round, allowing him to move to 11 under and climb into a tie for eighth place. A day earlier, he was one stroke away from missing the cut. On Saturday, his eagle on the par-5 fifth hole got him rolling in a bogey-free round.

Hossler began the round with a one-stroke lead. Nineteen golfers were within four strokes of him. Several golfers rose past Hossler on the leaderboard before he began his round.

Hossler notched five birdies during a 10-hole stretch before the momentum was halted because of a lightning delay. He was bogey-free through 15 holes before storms caused the day’s first suspension of play. He bogeyed the 16th hole upon the resumption of play.

There was another suspension prior to Hossler playing No. 18, with his tee shot going into the rough off the right side of the fairway. But he recovered for par with a 4-foot putt to maintain a share of the lead.

This is the final tournament in the PGA Tour’s regular season. Golfers need to be in the top 70 of the season’s standings to advance to next week’s FedEx Cup playoffs.

Brooks Koepka, who needs a strong finishing spot this weekend to move into the top 70, slumped with a 74 on Saturday and slid to 3 over in the tournament.

Defending champion Cameron Young, who made the cut on the number, shot 72 and is at 1 under for the tournament.

–Field Level Media

A’s Snap L Streak, End Sox Win Streak

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Gage Jump allowed two runs and struck out 11 over six innings, while Tyler Soderstrom and Henry Bolte homered as the Athletics 7-3 defeated the host Boston Red Sox on Saturday.

Jump (5-7) gave up six hits and walked two for the Athletics, who snapped a nine-game losing streak and won for only the second time in 14 games. Jonah Heim and Donovan Walton had two RBIs each, while Jacob Wilson went 2-for-5 with two runs scored.

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Andruw Monasterio drove in two runs for the Red Sox, who had their nine-game winning streak halted. It was just their fourth loss in 31 games.

Red Sox starter Jake Bennett (7-5) gave up four runs and five hits in 5 1/3 innings with three walks and five strikeouts.

Caleb Durbin singled in a run in the ninth for the Red Sox, who loaded the bases with two out against Hogan Harris. But Harris induced Eli White to line out to center and picked up his 10th save.

The Athletics took a 3-2 lead in the fifth on Heim’s two-run single off the green monster in left field.

Walton’s pinch-hit two-run ground-rule double in the sixth extended the lead to 5-2.

The Red Sox had runners on first and second with one out in the bottom of the sixth but Jump fanned Jarren Duran and Connor Wong.

Soderstrom’s solo homer in the seventh made it 6-2. His 19th home run of the season came on a drive into the right-field stands, estimated at 413 feet, off of reliever Raymond Burgos.

Bolte hit his fifth home run to center in the ninth, also off of Burgos.

Boston took a 2-0 lead in the first on Monasterio’s two-out, two-run single. It stretched his hitting streak to 10 games and on-base stretch to 20 games. The Red Sox stole three bases in the inning, two by Jahmai Jones and one by Durbin.

The Athletics got on the board to make it 2-1 in the fourth on Brian Serven’s soft infield RBI single in front of the plate with two out. The tapper scored Wilson — who led off the inning with a double — from third base.

The Red Sox outhit the Athletics, 10-8. Jones went 3-for-5 with two runs scored, while Nick Sogard went 3-for-4.

Boston left a dozen men on base and went 2-for-14 with runners in scoring position.

–Field Level Media

Red Sox “Woo” Adley

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WORCESTER – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox sent recently acquired catcher Adley Rutschman on a rehab assignment to Triple-A Worcester, moving him closer to his debut with his new club.

Rutschman, 28, was acquired from the Baltimore Orioles on Monday along with fellow catcher Jake Rodgers and cash for Carlos Narvaez, three minor leaguers and a player to be named.

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A left wrist injury forced Rutschman to the injured list on July 20. An All-Star this season, Rutschman was batting .251 with eight home runs and 47 RBIs in 67 games for Baltimore. The three-time All-Star is a career .254 hitter with 69 home runs and 277 RBIs in five seasons and 572 games for the Orioles.

The Red Sox have stormed back into playoff contention by going 32-5 since June 25.

Rutschman was in the leadoff spot for Worcester on Saturday and expected to catch five innings.

–Field Level Media

Streaking Sox Take on Losing A’s

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – The Boston Red Sox can do no wrong these days. At least that’s the way it seems.

The Red Sox will enter their Saturday matchup against the visiting Athletics on a nine-game winning streak after recording a 13-1 victory on Friday in the opening contest of a three-game series.

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Boston has won 11 of its last 12 games, 27 of its past 30 and 32 of its past 37 — the best streak in franchise history. The Friday victory was the Red Sox’s 12th in their past 14 home games and improved the team’s record to 29-29 at Fenway Park.

Boston has scored 25 runs in the past two games.

“It’s absolutely amazing,” left fielder Jarren Duran told WEEI following the latest triumph. “I remember at the beginning of the season the feeling was, ‘I hope we score.’ Now it’s gotten to the point of it’s just a matter of when we score and how much are we going to score.”

Catcher Jake Rogers and reliever Raymond Burgos, two players who may not be with the Red Sox for very long, made significant contributions on Friday.

Boston acquired Rogers when it traded for Adley Rutschman because the Red Sox needed a backup catcher until Rutschman is cleared to play after missing time due to left wrist inflammation. Rogers doubled in each of his first two at-bats on Friday. He also walked once, drove in a run and scored three times.

Rutschman hasn’t played since July 18, but following the Friday game, Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said the three-time All-Star is scheduled to catch five innings for Triple-A Worcester on Saturday.

Burgos was called up from Worcester on Friday to fortify a depleted bullpen after Boston played a 13-inning game against the Chicago White Sox on Thursday. He made his second major league appearance Friday night and tossed three scoreless innings to earn his first save. He retired each of the nine batters he faced.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the defeat, which extended their losing streak to nine games. The A’s also parted ways with general manager David Forst on Friday. Forst had been with the organization for 27 seasons.

“For me, (Forst) gave me this opportunity to manage this club,” Athletics manager Mark Kotsay said. “We’ve faced our certain circumstances, challenges, together. That’s what’s tough about it. Not being able to see it through with him.

“My ask of (the players) is that they go out and win as many games as possible from this point forward.”

The Athletics will be hoping for a repeat performance when they send rookie Gage Jump (4-7, 4.59 ERA) to the mound on Saturday. The left-hander was the winning pitcher when the Athletics beat the Red Sox 4-3 on July 28 — Boston’s last loss. He tossed six scoreless innings and struck out seven in that win, which is his only career appearance against the Red Sox.

Peyton Tolle Fans 14 in Win

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Payton Tolle recorded a career-high 14 strikeouts and Jarren Duran homered to help the Boston Red Sox extend their winning streak to nine games by beating the visiting Athletics 13-1 Friday night.

Duran’s home run, his 16th of the season, came against starting pitcher Jack Perkins and ignited a five-run second inning. It was his third home run in the last five games.

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Tolle (7-6) didn’t allow a baserunner until Tyler Soderstrom led off the fifth with a home run. It was his 18th homer of the season and cut Boston’s lead to 9-1.

Tolle was pulled after six innings. He allowed one run on two hits and didn’t walk a batter. Raymond Burgos picked up the save by pitching three innings of hitless relief.

Perkins (2-8) gave up five runs on five hits in three innings. He walked three and struck out three. The Athletics have lost their last nine games.

In addition to Duran’s home run, Boston’s five-run second featured back-to-back doubles from Anthony Seigler and Jake Rogers that increased the lead to 3-0 and a two-run double from Wilyer Abreu that drove in Rogers and Nick Sogard to make it 5-0. Abreu collected two of Boston’s 15 hits and drove in three runs. Boston added four runs in the fourth. After Rogers scored on an errant pickoff throw by Hayden Juenger, the Red Sox received an RBI single from Abreu, an RBI double from Masataka Yoshida and an RBI single by Andruw Monasterio.

Sacrifice flies from Caleb Durbin and Yoshida increased Boston’s lead to 11-1 in the sixth.

It was 12-1 after Rogers scored from second on Ceddanne Rafaela’s infield single in the seventh. Rafaela stretched the lead to 13-1 when he scored on Durbin’s double later in the inning.

The Athletics were limited to two hits in the loss. In addition to Soderstrom’s home run, Max Muncy had an infield single in the sixth.

–Field Level Media

Sox Rally 5 Times, Win in 13th

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FENWAY – (Wire Service Report) – Caleb Durbin’s RBI single up the middle in the 13th inning lifted Boston to a wild 12-11 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Thursday, the Red Sox’s eighth consecutive victory. Durbin capped a truly miraculous, come-from-behind Boston victory.

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After Wilyer Abreu was intentionally walked with one out, Durbin (3-for-6) plated automatic runner Nick Sogard from second base to end a 4-hour, 23-minute marathon in which the teams combined for 29 total hits and nine runs in extra innings.

Boston overcame five deficits to sweep the three-game series and win for the 31st time in 36 games.

The Red Sox rallied from 4-0 and 5-2 deficits to tie the game at 5-5 in the fourth and trailed 7-6 before Abreu knocked a two-out, two-strike single in the ninth to force extras. Both teams scored twice in the 10th and once in both the 11th and 12th before Durbin came through in the clutch.

Brayan Bello (4-6) finally posted a zero in the top of the 13th as Boston’s eighth reliever behind starter Ranger Suarez, who worked just three innings.

Chase Meidroth hit a pair of two-run home runs and finished 3-for-5 to lead Chicago. Erick Fedde (6-7) took the loss.

In the ninth, Boston’s Connor Wong clanked a leadoff double off the Green Monster. Sogard’s sacrifice moved pinch runner Eli White to third, and White scored on Abreu’s knock two batters later.

Meidroth tagged Boston closer Aroldis Chapman for his second homer, giving Chicago a 9-7 edge in the 10th, but the hosts responded again. Andruw Monasterio plated Abreu on his second double of the game high off the left field wall. After Jarren Duran was intentionally walked to load the bases, Anthony Seigler’s sacrifice fly made it 9-9.

Chicago’s Colson Montgomery and Abreu traded sac flies in the 11th, but the Red Sox squandered a bases-loaded, one-out opportunity.

In the 12th, the White Sox’s Sam Antonacci knocked a go-ahead single over shortstop. Meidroth followed with a single to left, and Duran cut down a potential insurance run with his throw to the plate.

Jake Rogers followed with a sac fly in the bottom half.

Ceddanne Rafaela, Masataka Yoshida, Monasterio, Seigler and Wong each had two hits for Boston. Montgomery had two hits and two RBIs for the White Sox.

–Field Level Media

PGA Tour Winds Down at Wyndham

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By TERRY LYONS, Editor of Digital Sports Desk

GREENSBORO – The 2025 Wyndham Championship is the 34th and final event of the 34 scheduled events for the PGA Tour’s 2026 FedEx Cup regular season. Since the inception of the FedExCup in 2007, the Wyndham Championship has played host to the FedEx Cup regular season finale (since 2008 at Sedgefield Country Club).

This year marks the 87th annual Wyndham Championship, having been included on the PGA TOUR schedule since 1938 (the seventh-longest running TOUR event excluding the majors).

Following the Wyndham Championship, the Top 70 players in the FedEx Cup standings will advance to the FedEx St. Jude Championship.

Shane Lowry (No. 60) is the only player ranked from Nos. 60-80 in the FedEx Cup standings who is not in the field. In 2025, Chris Kirk (T5) was the only player to move inside the Top 70 following the Wyndham Championship.

Jason Day (No. 75) and Keegan Bradley (No. 72) both sit outside the Top 70 and are seeking to extend their streak of consecutive Playoffs appearances, with Day going for his 19th (since 2008) while Bradley seeks his 16th (since 2011).

The Wyndham Championship winner will receive 500 FedEx Cup points, a two-year exemption on the PGA TOUR and $1,530,000; the winner will also be exempt for THE PLAYERS Championship, Masters Tournament and PGA Championship in 2027.

Tournament Notes

Following next week’s FedEx St. Jude Championship, the 70 players are cut to the Top 50 players in the FedEx Cup standings and they’ll qualify for the BMW Championship (Aug. 20-23). After the BMW Championship, the Top 30 players in the standings advance to the TOUR Championship (Aug. 27-30) in Atlanta.

  • Scottie Scheffler (4,123) holds a 794-point lead in the FedExCup standings over Matt Fitzpatrick (3,329).
  • Matt Fitzpatrick and Chris Gotterup lead the TOUR with three victories each this season; Wyndham Clark and Cameron Young are the only other players with multiple wins this season (two each).
  • There have been eight first-time winners in the first 33 events on TOUR this season: Jacob Bridgeman (The Genesis Invitational), Ricky Castillo (Puerto Rico Open), Alex Fitzpatrick (Zurich Classic of New Orleans), Kristoffer Reitan (Truist Championship), Bud Cauley (RBC Canadian Open), Stefano Mazzoli (Corales Puntacana Championship), Jackson Koivun (3M Open), Michael Thorbjornsen (Rocket Classic).

Please check PGATourCom for updated info.

Wyndham Championship | Tournament Facts

COURSE: Sedgefield Country Club, Greensboro, North Carolina

YARDS/PAR: 7,131 yards/Par 70

ARCHITECT: Donald Ross

PRIZE Money/Winner’s Share – Purse: $8,500,000/$1,530,000

DEFENDING CHAMPION: Cameron Young

OVERVIEW: (link)

PAST RESULTS: (link)

FEDEx CUP Points to Winner: 500

TOURNAMENT SITE: (link)

SOCIAL MEDIA: #PGATour #FedExCup @WyndhamChamp

Red Sox Acquire Adley Rutschman

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman from the Baltimore Orioles, along with catcher Jake Rogers and cash considerations, in exchange for catcher Carlos Narváez, minor league right-handed pitchers Anthony Eyanson and Kyson Witherspoon, minor league outfielder Enddy Azocar, and a player to be named later or cash considerations.

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Rutschman, 28, has been selected as an American League All-Star in three of the last four seasons (2023-24, 2026), while winning a Silver Slugger Award and being selected to the All-MLB First Team in 2023. The switch-hitter has played in 67 games for Baltimore this season, batting .251 (62-for-247) with a .331 on-base percentage, .764 OPS, 30 runs scored, 19 doubles, one triple, eight home runs, and 47 RBI while making 49 starts as the catcher and 16 as the designated hitter. He has thrown out 14 of 34 runners attempting to steal (41%), tied for the most in the Majors this season, while ranking fifth among catchers in FanGraphs’ WAR (2.3) and strikeout rate (14.1%, minimum 200 plate appearances). He was placed on the 10-Day Injured List with left wrist inflammation on July 20.

Selected by the Orioles with the first overall pick in the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Oregon native has hit .254 (540-for-2,126) with 289 runs scored, 122 doubles, six triples, 69 home runs, and 277 RBI in 572 career Major League games, all with Baltimore (2022-26). Since his Major League debut on May 21, 2022, he ranks second among catchers in doubles, third in hits and FanGraphs’ WAR (17.3), fourth in runs scored, and seventh in RBI.

Rogers, 31, was traded from the Detroit Tigers to the Orioles on July 30. The right-handed hitter has played in 39 games this season for Detroit (36 games) and Baltimore (three games), making 33 starts as the catcher and batting .163 (16-for-98) with 11 runs scored, two doubles, one triple, three home runs, and nine RBI. Against left-handed pitchers, he has batted .273 (6-for-22) with an .815 OPS. Selected by the Houston Astros in the third round of the 2016 First-Year Player Draft, the Texas native has played in 370 career Major League games with the Tigers (2019-26) and Orioles (2026).

Narváez, 27, has played in 62 games this season, making 56 starts as the catcher while batting .187 (32-for-171) with six doubles and three home runs. Originally signed as an international free agent by the New York Yankees in July 2015, the Venezuela native has hit .225 (132-for-587) in 186 career Major League games with the Yankees (2024) and Red Sox (2025-26).

Eyanson, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 2 prospect and top pitching prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 33 overall prospect. The right-hander has pitched in 16 games (15 starts) for High-A Greenville (five starts) and Double-A Portland (11 games, 10 starts) in his first professional season, going 4-0 with a 1.32 ERA (10 ER/68.1 IP) and 94 strikeouts. Selected by Boston in the third round of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft, the California native represented the American League at the 2026 All-Star Futures Game on July 12.

Witherspoon, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as Boston’s No. 3 prospect, as well as baseball’s No. 97 overall prospect. The right-hander has made 17 starts for High-A Greenville in his first professional season, going 3-5 with a 4.78 ERA (40 ER/75.1 IP) and 78 strikeouts. The Missouri native was selected by Boston in the first round (No. 15 overall) of the 2025 First-Year Player Draft.

Azocar, 19, is ranked by Baseball America as the Red Sox’ No. 5 prospect. In 85 games this season between Single-A Salem (39 games) and High-A Greenville (46 games), the right-handed hitter has batted .286 (105-for-367) with a .341 on-base percentage, .881 OPS, 76 runs scored, 27 doubles, six triples, 18 home runs, and 63 RBI while making 70 starts in center field, 13 as the designated hitter, one in left field, and one in right field. Signed by Boston as an international free agent in January 2024, the Venezuela native has hit .262 (202-for-771) with 133 runs scored and 105 RBI in 201 career minor league games, all in the Red Sox organization.

Sox Acquire Reliever But Part With Highly Touted Marcelo Mayer

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BOSTON – (Staff Report from Official News Release) – The Boston Red Sox acquired left-handed pitcher Erik Miller and minor league outfielder Carlos Gutierrez from the San Francisco Giants, in exchange for infielder Marcelo Mayer.

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Miller, 28, has made 38 appearances for the Giants this season, going 2-0 with 10 holds, four saves, a 2.76 ERA (10 ER/32.2 IP), and 45 strikeouts. The left-hander ranks in MLB’s 90th percentile or higher in average exit velocity (99th, 83.1 MPH), expected batting average (98th, .181), hard-hit rate (98th, 27.4%), whiff rate (97th, 34.8%), strikeout rate (95th, 31.7%), and groundball rate (92nd, 53.4%). He has made 14 consecutive scoreless appearances, beginning on June 19, tossing 13.0 innings over that span while recording a 0.85 WHIP and .143 opponent batting average (6-for-42).

Originally selected by the Philadelphia Phillies in the fourth round of the 2019 First-Year Player Draft, the Missouri native owns a 3.05 ERA (44 ER/130.0 IP), a .210 opponent batting average (97-for-461), and 154 strikeouts in 147 career games (10 starts) with the Giants (2024-26). In his career, he has held left-handed hitters to a .189 batting average (35-for-185) and .550 OPS.

Gutierrez, 21, is ranked by Baseball America as the Giants’ No. 24 prospect. The left-handed hitter has played in 83 games for High-A Eugene this season, batting .271 (81-for-299) with an .826 OPS, 18 doubles, three triples, nine home runs, 45 RBI, and 26 stolen bases while making 64 starts in left field, 18 as the designated hitter, and one in center field. Signed by San Francisco as an international free agent in January 2023, the Mexico native has hit .314 (200-for-637) with 33 doubles, nine triples, 12 home runs, 85 RBI, 64 stolen bases, and an .866 OPS in 168 career minor league games, all in the Giants’ organization.

Mayer, 23, has played in 70 games for Boston this season, hitting .220 (45-for-205) with 19 runs scored, 10 doubles, three home runs, and 22 RBI while making 39 starts at second base and 20 at shortstop. The left-handed hitter was placed on the 10-Day Injured List on June 26 with a bone stress reaction to the left ulna. Selected by the Red Sox in the first round (No. 4 overall) of the 2021 First-Year Player Draft, the California native has hit .223 (74-for-332) in 114 career Major League games, all with Boston (2025-26).

Kraft Being Krafty

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FOXBOROUGH – (Wire Service Report) – New England Patriots owner Robert Kraft said the team offered Christian Gonzalez a contract extension that would make him the highest-paid cornerback in the NFL.

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Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

Kraft did not reveal the specific terms of the deal on Saturday, the first day of training camp.

“We love Christian Gonzalez,” Kraft said during the team’s Pawtriots pet adoption event, per the Boston Herald. “We love him as a player, as a person. That’s why we’ve made an offer to him that makes him the highest-paid player ever to play that position in the NFL, and coincidentally, it’s the highest contract in the Patriots franchise history.

“So we’re glad we drafted him and we developed here, and we hope he’ll be with us for a long time.”

Gonzalez is eligible for a contract extension for the first time after being selected by the Patriots with the 17th overall pick of the 2023 NFL Draft.

The Los Angeles Rams’ Trent McDuffie is currently the NFL’s highest-paid cornerback, pocketing $31 million per season on his four-year, $131 million contract that he signed this offseason.

Gonzalez, 24, made the Pro Bowl last season after posting 69 tackles and 10 passes defensed in 14 starts. He has three interceptions, 24 passes defensed, one fumble recovery, one sack and 145 tackles in 34 career games (all starts).

–Field Level Media

NFL Schedule: Here’s a Top Ten

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LOS ANGELES – (Wire Service Report) – Not only do the Los Angeles Rams have a reasonable shot at becoming the first team to win the Super Bowl on its homefield twice, the NFC West runner-up is by far the easiest team to find on the NFL’s 2026 broadcast schedule.

Seven times the Rams are positioned for a primetime slot — tying a league record — barring a slip from contender status that would prompt networks to invoke the “flex” option and reassign Sean McVay’s team to an afternoon kickoff.

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You’ve got to appreciate McVay’s offensive machine as much as the next NFL fan, but let’s survey the broader landscape for the 10 games we are circling on the 2026 schedule.

1. Green Bay Packers at Chicago Bears, Friday, Dec. 25
Are the Packers still gutted by two heartbreaking losses to the Bears? They’ll never admit it. The drama on the field and sidelines restored one of the  game’s best rivalries. Chicago’s schedule strength adds a degree of difficulty the Bears didn’t face rising from the bottom of the NFC North to a division title in Ben Johnson’s first season. The Packers had owned this series in recent years and want to pull the pendulum northward.

2. Philadelphia Eagles at Dallas Cowboys, Thursday, Nov. 26
Thanksgiving Day amplifies whatever the state of the Dallas Cowboys happens to be, and this one should be extra spicy. It hasn’t happened since 2014 and will be the third Turkey Day meeting between the teams. Cowboys fans are crossing their fingers the results will be better than the last time (33-10 loss in ‘14) and 1989, when the Eagles used two Randall Cunningham-to-Cris Carter TDs and Philly’s defense ransacked Troy Aikman at Texas Stadium, 27-0. Philadelphia hosts the first meeting of the 2026 season with Dallas on “Monday Night Football” in October.

3. Buffalo Bills at New England Patriots, Sunday, Dec. 6
Josh Allen ran the AFC East for nearly a decade and Drake Maye was more than the new kid on the block in 2025. He played like an MVP candidate — even winning in Buffalo — and the Patriots went 5-1 in the division. The only loss was a 35-31 barnburner at Gillette Stadium won by the Bills on Dec. 14. It was New England’s only loss between Sept. 28 and the Super Bowl.

4. Los Angeles Rams at Seattle Seahawks, Friday, Dec. 25
Fine, we can talk Rams, too Merry Christmas to those who celebrate, the NFL wrapped up a matchup between teams who combined for 26 regular-season wins and took the division duel down to the wire last season. Lumen Field won’t be a present for the Rams, but Matthew Stafford and Sean McVay have usually done just fine in enemy territory. The game falls one week after the one-year anniversary of Seattle’s memorable fourth-quarter rally from 16 down, forced overtime and walked it off with a 38-37 victory over the Rams.

5. Baltimore Ravens at Cincinnati Bengals, Thursday, Dec. 31
Last season wasn’t a typical set of Bengals-Ravens games. The AFC North rivals split with an average margin of victory of 21 points. Rewind to 2025 and unleashed Lamar Jackson vs. bomb-happy Joe Burrow produced scores of 35-34 and 41-38 (overtime). If we get a New Year’s Eve snow game with division and playoff consequences, even better.

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6. New England Patriots at Seattle Seahawks, Wednesday, Sept. 9
A Wednesday night opener ahead of the Thursday Rams-49ers matchup in Australia, we’ll find out if the Patriots are better prepared for a Super Bowl rematch with months to prepare. New England oscillated from disjointed to complete disarray in the February loss to Seattle and didn’t have all oars in the water during an offseason when Mike Vrabel’s off-field, ahem, affairs were a constant talking point.

7. Tampa Bay Buccaneers at Chicago Bears, Sunday, Nov. 8
Baker Mayfield vs. Caleb Williams piques our interest in a midseason “Sunday Night Football” matchup with the undercard of Buccaneers head coach and defensive maestro Todd Bowles against Bears coach and offensive brain Ben Johnson. The Bucs fell short of the postseason in 2025 for the first time since 2019, while the Bears are trending upward after the franchise won a playoff game (well, two of them, actually) in January to snap a 15-year drought dating to 2011.

8. Dallas Cowboys at Seattle Seahawks, Monday, Dec. 7
Crossover games with the NFC West add a degree of difficulty to the Dallas schedule this season. While we wait to offer judgment on the revamped defense, the Cowboys are likely to bring all the smoke to test Seattle’s versatile, attacking defense in a game sandwiched between matchups with the Eagles and Rams for Dallas.

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9. Jacksonville Jaguars at Denver Broncos, Sunday, Sept. 20
Some called the Denver AFC West run last season but far fewer anticipated Jacksonville winning 13  games and dealing the Broncos one of the team’s three regular-season losses. First-year head coach Liam Coen reflects many of Broncos head coach Sean Payton’s qualities as a play-caller and designer, adding built-in entertainment value.

10. San Francisco 49ers at Kansas City Chiefs, Sunday, Dec. 27
What will the 49ers have left in the tank? San Francisco is setting a record for miles traveled in a season thanks to international treks to Mexico and Australia and the closing stretch for the 49ers is some kind of minefield from NFL schedulers. Patrick Mahomes and Brock Purdy are familiar foes but 49ers coach Kyle Shanahan has not beaten Andy Reid as a head coach (0-3). Two of those losses were agonizing Super Bowl defeats (LIV, 2020 and LVIII, 2024). After falling short of historical track and expectations in 2025, is the window closed on one or both of these longtime contenders?

–Field Level Media

Mostly Sonny, 100% Chance of Win

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FENWAY – (Staff and Wire Service Report) – Wilyer Abreu highlighted a 2-for-3 night with three runs and his 20th home run of the season, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 4-0 win over the visiting Chicago White Sox on Wednesday.

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Sonny Gray (14-2) fired six scoreless innings as Boston won its seventh consecutive game. The right-hander allowed just three hits and two walks while striking out eight.

Tyron Guerrero, Garrett Whitlock and Jovani Moran threw one inning apiece to complete the four-hit shutout. Moran walked the leadoff batter in the ninth, then struck out the next three batters.

Abreu cranked a third-inning solo shot to the right-center-field bullpen to lead the Red Sox, who have won the first two games of the three-game series.

Jarren Duran went 2-for-3 with a double and a run, helping Boston improve to 30-5 since June 25.

Chicago’s Miguel Vargas finished 2-for-3. Massachusetts native Sean Burke (7-6) allowed two runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings. He fanned four and walked two as the White Sox took their third defeat in four games.

The Red Sox jumped out to a first-inning lead for the second straight game. Abreu hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch before Willson Contreras knocked an RBI single into left-center field.

Chicago nearly knotted the score in the third, but Sam Antonacci was tagged out at home on a 5-3-2 putout. Caleb Durbin made a diving stop on Vargas’ infield single. After the third baseman threw across the diamond, Contreras fired a strike to Connor Wong for the inning-ending out.

In Boston’s half of the third, Abreu continued his hot streak with a two-out solo homer. Burke struck out the first two batters of the inning, but the Boston right fielder socked a 3-2 pitch 390 feet to right-center.

Duran manufactured the third Red Sox run in the seventh, hitting a leadoff single, stealing second, reaching third on a throwing error and scoring on Andruw Monasterio’s sacrifice fly.

In the eighth, Abreu drew a leadoff walk, stole second and scored on Durbin’s two-out hit.

Contreras exited in the fifth inning due to an illness.

–Field Level Media