Boston Red Sox Review: Monthly summary for the 2018 season
The Boston Red Sox are World Series champions. With the completion of this great season, let’s look back at each month and what they accomplished in that month.
The Boston Red Sox finished with a record of 108-54 this season, which is obviously not easy. To get a record like that, a lot of things need to happen and a team needs to dominate every month.
March and April, were the beginning of their dominance.
March/April
Record: 21-7
On Opening Day, the Red Sox suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Tampa Bay Rays when the bullpen blew a four-run lead after Chris Sale dominated for six shutout innings. However, this would be the last time the Red Sox fell under .500, rattling off nine straight wins right after this.
Despite a slow start from the offense, the early season rotation of Sale, David Price, Rick Porcello, Hector Velazquez, and Brian Johnson was fantastic to open the year, as the Red Sox awaited returns from Eduardo Rodriguez, Drew Pomeranz, and Steven Wright.
After about a week or so, the offense woke up, scoring 42 runs in a three-game span from April 7th to 10th. At this point in the season, Red Sox fans started to feel really good about this team, considering their success with only 3/5 of the rotation healthy.
Games of the month:
The two memorable games that came in this month actually came consecutively. Down 7-2 in the 8th inning on April 8th at home against Tampa, the Red Sox rallied to score six runs, capped off by an RBI double from Andrew Benintendi to take the lead 8-7. Craig Kimbrel then came in and worked a 1-2-3 inning to seal the win. This win extended a seven-game win streak to eight.
The other really memorable game came a couple nights later in their season debut against the Yankees. The Red Sox jumped on Luis Severino early and Mookie Betts put the finishing touch on a 14-1 demolition with a grand slam in the 6th inning Yankees reliever Chasen Shreve.
The Red Sox went into May with a three-game lead in the AL East.
May
Record:18-11
The Red Sox opened the month with a tough 13-inning loss at home to Kansas City after Brian Johnson was taken deep by Jorge Soler. However, they immediately bounced back, winning 4 of 5 to get back on track. They also played their first series of the year at Yankee Stadium, where they lost 2 out of 3 in what could be described as a humbling series, leaving the division tied after. This month showed them that the AL East was not going to be easy, with the Yankees winning 18 of 19 and putting themselves back in the race. However, the Red Sox were able to take back the division by the end of the month, heading into June with a 2 game lead.
Another noteworthy event during this month was Hanley Ramirez being designated for assignment.
Game of the month:
On May 5th, the Red Sox played the Rangers in Texas. Eduardo Rodriguez got the start, striking out 10 in 6 innings, but allowing 5 runs. Trailing 4-1 after 5, the Red Sox scored 2 runs in the 6th and 7th, with the big hit from Mitch Moreland, a 377 foot home run in the 6th. Tied 5-5 in the 9th, Andrew Benintendi tripled, then Hanley Ramirez drove him in with a sac fly. Craig Kimbrel then shut the door in the bottom of the inning to seal the victory. This win pushed them to 24-9. In a month with most wins coming via blowout, this was one of the more exciting wins for the team.
June
Record: 17-10
In another solid month, the Red Sox swept the Orioles and Angels. In a 10-game road trip from the 11th to 21st, the Red Sox went 6-4 despite losing 4 of 5 in the middle of it.
At the end of the month, the Red Sox and Yankees met once again in Yankee Stadium. After a disappointing series opener that they lost 8-1, the Red Sox bounced back, crushing the Yankees 11-0 in the second game after jumping on Sonny Gray early, courtesy of a Rafael Devers grand slam in the 1st. This was the final game of the month, with the Red Sox leading the division by 1 game heading into June.
This was also the month that Mookie Betts missed most of his time with his abdominal strain, so the Red Sox had to fill his void left in the lineup. They also acquired future World Series MVP Steve Pearce on June 29th.
Game of the month:
On June 2nd, the Red Sox were looking to make a statement. After losing two straight to open a 4 game series in Houston, the Red Sox needed a win. Down 3-2 in the 7th, the Red Sox roared back. First, Christian Vazquez homered to tie it up, then Jackie Bradley Jr. walked, then Andrew Benintendi homered, giving the Red Sox a 5-3 lead. The Red Sox were able to limit the Astros offense the rest of the way, winning 5-4. This game gave them much needed momentum for the series finale which they won 9-3 and left Houston with a series split. Following this series, they had a much less difficult opponent in the Tigers.
July
Record: 19-6
After a brutal 11-1 loss to the Yankees to open the month, the Red Sox got rolling. They rattled off 10 straight following the loss, with sweeps of Washington, Kansas City, and Texas. The Red Sox did not lose a series all month and began to run away with the AL East. After being tied for the division lead, the Red Sox held a 5 game lead in the division at the end of the month.
The Red Sox also had 3 walk-offs in the month, coming from Xander Bogaerts (grand slam), Mookie Betts (solo home run), and Blake Swihart (double). For Swihart, this was the month he showed his offensive upside, boasting a 1.091 OPS in the month.
Starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi was acquired on July 25th and second baseman Ian Kinsler was acquired on July 31st. Reliever Ryan Brasier also began his unexpected rise through the bullpen making his debut on July 9th and finishing the month with a 0.90 ERA in 10 innings.
The Red Sox finished the month with an incredible 75-34 record heading into an August, and the memorable 4 game series with the Yankees.
Game of the month:
On July 29th, Nathan Eovaldi made his debut for the Red Sox. One start was all he needed to show he was what the Red Sox were looking for. He fired 7 shutout innings and the Red Sox won 3-0 after Matt Barnes and Craig Kimbrel shut the Twins down in the 8th and 9th. This was the beginning of what would be a very successful half season for Nathan Eovaldi and the Red Sox. The rotation was set, and they were ready to make a deep run.
August
Record: 18-9
If you were to ask Red Sox fans which month they remember the most, I think the majority of them would say August. This was the month where the Red Sox all but won the AL East.
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The Red Sox opened the month with a pivotal 4-game series with the Yankees. Shortly before the series, Chris Sale was placed on the DL with shoulder inflammation and Brian Johnson was announced as the replacement starter for the series opener. The Red Sox did not let that affect them, sweeping the Yankees in 4 games, capped off by an Andrew Benintendi walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th of the 4th game. Most Red Sox fans can probably still see in their head Tony Renda going headfirst into home to win the game.
During this series, Steve Pearce made himself the newest hero, blasting 3 home runs in the series-opening 15-7 win. Alex Cora earned his first ejection in game 2 while Mookie Betts made his season debut at second base. Nathan Eovaldi continued his dominance, firing 8 shutout innings in game 3 and then Benintendi was the hero in game 4.
Despite a bit of a cold streak following this series, which included their only time being swept all season against Tampa, the 9.5 game lead the Red Sox had was too much for the Yankees to overcome. They led the division by 7.5 games at the end of the month.
Games of the month:
This one is pretty obvious. It is the 4 game sweep of the Yankees to open the month. Not only did winning this series in this fashion close the deal in the AL East, but it also gave the team incredible confidence, especially considering they did it without Chris Sale and a couple of offensive starters due to injury. There was no doubt that the Red Sox were for real after this series. This also put enormous pressure on the Yankees, with the A’s now right behind them for wildcard home field advantage, which could have helped the Red Sox get a much more favorable ALDS matchup.
September
Record: 15-11
In a month where they were able to relax more, the Red Sox gave some key players much needed rest with expanded rosters. They still were able to put together some impressive series despite this, sweeping a playoff team in Atlanta on the road, and took 2 of 3 from the Mets in a series where Jacob DeGrom and Noah Syndergaard pitched.
They also clinched the division on September 20th with an 11-6 win at Yankee Stadium. The Red Sox finished the season 108-54 and it was World Series or bust.
Games of the month:
Clinching the division was obviously a huge highlight in September, especially considering it was done at Yankee Stadium, but another really fun game was a 9-8 win in Atlanta on September 9th. In a game where most starters were rested, the Red Sox trailed 7-1 after 7 innings and looked to be finished. However, like the Red Sox did all season, they came roaring back and scored 6 runs to tie it at 7. After Brandon Workman surrendered a solo home run in the 8th, the Red Sox had to come back again. Brandon Phillips, who had recently gotten a promotion after spending most of the year in Portland and Pawtucket, launched a 2 run home run to take a 9-8 lead. Craig Kimbrel then closed it down in the 9th for the win.
October (postseason)
Record: 11-3
ALDS:
After two early exits and fairly embarrassing series in 2016 and 2017 postseasons, where the Red Sox went 1-6, the team wanted to prove this year was different. The Red Sox opened the postseason with a 5-4 win over the Yankees. After a disappointing game 2, the Red Sox dominated game 3, winning 16-1 and then won game 4 4-3. Brock Holt hit for the first postseason cycle in playoff history in game 3.
ALCS:
After a rude awakening to open the series, a 7-2 loss to the defending champion Astros, the Red Sox bounced back like they had all season. They won game 2 at home 7-5, the beat the Astros 8-2 in the first game in Houston to take a 2-1 lead. Jackie Bradley Jr. sealed game 3 with a late grand slam to put the Red Sox up for good. After a game 4 win and a dominant game 5 start from David Price, the Red Sox were headed to the World Series. Jackie Bradley Jr. was awarded ALCS MVP due to his 3 huge hits in the series.
World Series:
In a 4-1 series win, there were numerous memorable moments. In game 1 the Red Sox jumped on Clayton Kershaw in an 8-4 win. The following night, David Price threw another gem in a 4-2 win. Despite losing game 3, it was one for the ages. An 18 inning loss where everyone watched Nathan Eovaldi dominate for 6 innings before allowing a walk-off home run to Max Muncy on a well-executed pitch, that Muncy did a terrific job to hit out. After a slow start in game 4, Mitch Moreland sparked a late comeback with a 3 run home run, then Steve Pearce tied it with a solo shot. Then in game 5, David Price threw another gem to close it out while Steve Pearce launched two home runs in a 5-2 World Series clincher, capped off by Chris Sale’s strikeout of Manny Machado to end it. Steve Pearce was given the World Series MVP.
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And there it is, the 2018 World Champion Boston Red Sox season. It is one that will be remembered forever.