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Red Sox News: Playoff race after win over O's, assistant GM targeted by Mets

By Katie Manganelli |
Sep 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Rob Refsnyder (30) is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images
Sep 9, 2024; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox right fielder Rob Refsnyder (30) is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the eighth inning at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: David Butler II-Imagn Images / David Butler II-Imagn Images

The night after a demoralizing 7-2 loss to the White Sox, the Boston Red Sox pulled off a stunning upset of the Orioles.

The Sox piled on Baltimore for 12 runs and Rob Refsnyder had something to do with most of them. The veteran posted a four-hit, five-RBI night that featured two homers. Tyler O'Neill followed each of Refsnyder's homers with blasts of his own — the two went back-to-back in the third and eighth innings.

The Red Sox's other bats woke up too, though. All but two players in the lineup collected at least one hit. Ceddanne Rafaela came through with four RBI in the sixth and seventh innings.

Hopefully, Boston's win is the start of a positive trend for the club. The Sox's bats were quiet against the White Sox and Mets, and such a commanding victory over Baltimore was unexpected. The Red Sox played themselves back into the Wild Card race, but they're in a deadlock with the Mariners and Tigers at three games back.

Red Sox, Tigers, Mariners tied three games out of the third AL Wild Card slot

The Sox have two games left against the Orioles before they head to the Bronx and face the Yankees for four games. The Mariners have the rest of a series with the Padres to get through and matchups with the Astros and Yankees in the last few weeks of the season. The Tigers have two series with the Orioles and one with the Royals in the way of their Wild Card push.

Boston will need to pull off a few more upsets to keep pace with the teams in the final push to the third wild card spot. The Red Sox's latest win over the Orioles suggests it's possible, and they won at just the right time — the Royals and Twins lost on Sept. 9.

Mets hope to poach Red Sox general manager Mike Groopman

In a Sept. 7 report from The Boston Globe, Peter Abraham updated fans on the Mets' general manager search. Team owner David Stearns hasn't had time to choose one during the season and plans to search during the offseason. He named Red Sox GM Mike Groopman as an option.

Groopman was hired in Boston in 2021. He and Stearns worked together in the Milwaukee Brewers organization where Stearns once held GM, chief baseball officer and advisory roles.

Groopman was formerly Milwaukee's VP of international scouting and his talents could be missed in the front office if he and the Red Sox part ways.

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