Full Breakdown
Red Sox Rally in 13-Inning Thriller to Extend Historic Winning Streak
8/8/2026, 3:14:59 AM
The Game: 13-Inning Walk-Off Victory Over Chicago
On August 7, the Boston Red Sox defeated the Chicago White Sox 12-11 in a 13-inning duel at Fenway Park. Caleb Durbin’s RBI single in the bottom of the 13th broke a 4-hour, 23-minute marathon, giving Boston its eighth straight win. The teams combined for 29 hits and nine runs after the ninth inning, making the contest the second-longest game in the pitch-clock era.
Background & Context
The win continued a stretch that began on June 25, when Boston improved to a 31-5 record. The Sox have been 26-3 since July 3 and 17-3 since the All-Star break, sweeping six series against first-place opponents—a record for the expansion era. Before the game, they trailed the Yankees by a half-game for the top AL wild-card spot and were five games behind the Rays for the AL East lead.
Data & Statistics
- Winning streak: 8 straight victories; 10 of the last 11 games.
- Season record: 63-51, 12 games over .500.
- Extra-inning output: First team in the modern era to score in five separate innings from the ninth onward (Elias Sports Bureau).
- Series sweeps: Sixth sweep of a first-place opponent this season.
- Pitching usage: Starter Ranger Suarez lasted three innings; Boston used eight relievers who combined for 166 pitches.
- Duration: 4 hours 23 minutes, the second-longest game since the pitch-clock was introduced in 2023.
Official Statements & Responses
Interim manager Chad Tracy called the effort “unbelievable” and said the team “just did not want to lose.” Red Sox third-baseman Caleb Durbin noted his finger injury was “a pinky. It’s all good,” before delivering the walk-off hit.
On-the-Ground Reports
Chicago opened a 4-0 lead in the third; Boston answered with a two-run homer by Connor Wong. The Sox erased deficits of 5-2, 7-5, 9-7, 10-9 and 11-10, tying the game in the fourth, ninth, tenth, eleventh and twelfth innings. Key contributions included Wilyer Abreu’s ninth-inning single, Chase Meidroth’s two-run homer in the 10th, Andruw Monasterio’s RBI double, Anthony Seigler’s sacrifice flies, and Jake Rogers’ 12th-inning sac fly. Reliever Brayan Bello closed the top of the 13th without allowing a run.
Verbatim Quotes
- “It's a pinky. It's all good,” — Caleb Durbin
- “They just did not want to lose.” — Wilyer Abreu
What’s Next
Boston opens a three-game series against the Oakland Athletics on Friday, with the first game scheduled for a 6:10 p.m. start. The team faces a packed schedule with no off-day until August 20, raising concerns about bullpen fatigue after the heavy usage in the 13-inning win.
