BOSTON -- The opponent no longer seems to matter. Nor does the opposing starting pitcher. When the Red Sox play baseball at Fenway Park these days, they just about always win.
Not even an early start time (11:35 a.m. ET) on Sunday could get manager Alex Cora’s club out of its routine of dominating in front of the home crowd.
Backed by a six-run bottom of the fourth inning against Astros ace Framber Valdez, the Red Sox (62-51) rolled to a 6-1 victory to complete a three-game sweep of the first-place team in the American League West.
The latest series victory at home took place just one weekend after Boston took two out of three against the defending World Series champion Dodgers.
“Playing well at home, we can really use that to our advantage. We feel like it creates a lot of pressure for the other team, the crowd gets rocking,” said Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story. “Maybe we distract them a little bit and they leave something over the plate. It's part of the game. It's such a special part of playing here. And I'm enjoying that.”
There was a common denominator for the Sox from 2022-24, aside from missing the postseason. Boston wasn’t particularly imposing in its own ballpark in any of those three seasons.
That has changed in dramatic fashion of late. Playing in front of the Green Monster, Boston is getting monstrous results which includes a 14-2 stretch since June 30, a 21-5 record since June 4, not to mention a 7-1 record in its last eight home series. Only the Blue Jays and Mets have more wins at home than the Sox (37-21).
This marks the first time since June 26, 2022 that the Sox have been as many as 11 games over .500.
“We're much better than the last two years. We're healthier,” said Cora. “We’ve got a complete team. Guys are playing with an edge now. You can tell. Like I said, this place is fun again.”
This series was particularly impressive as Boston won games started by Houston’s two best starters (Hunter Brown and Valdez).
And it was also noteworthy because the Astros -- annually one of MLB’s top measuring sticks -- swept the Red Sox at Fenway in emphatic fashion the previous two Augusts.
“I always look at the seasons and I hate comparing ourselves to other teams, but the last two years that [home] series [against Houston] put us in a bad spot,” said Cora. “And it's a lot different right now.”
Cora has said numerous times that his team will be fine as long as it pitches well.
Lucas Giolito was the latest to do so, going eight innings while allowing three hits and one run over eight innings.
The running joke within the Red Sox is how opposite of a morning person Giolito is. Cora tried to give him an out by having new acquisition Dustin May make his Boston debut on Sunday. But that would have meant Giolito would have had to wait until Wednesday to pitch again and he didn’t want that.
So just like the 11 a.m. game in Washington D.C. on July 4, Giolito defied his nocturnal reputation.
“Yes, it’s not very fun,” Giolito said of early wakeup calls. “Ever since I was a kid, I would stay up super late, reading. And then it turned into staying up super late playing video games. And I've just done that ever since. My excuse is I like to say that I prime myself for 7 p.m. being my locked in hours. But obviously, you have to make an adjustment for a day like today.”
While the Red Sox currently trail the Blue Jays by three games in the American League East, it also bears watching that Boston is in possession of the first AL Wild Card spot.
If they maintain the No. 4 seed in the AL, the Sox would host a best-of-three Wild Card series. By winning the division, Boston could skip the WIld Card series entirely with the possibility of having home field advantage in a best-of-five Division Series.
But these Red Sox, who have won five in a row and seven out of eight, are staying in the moment. And enjoying each moment.
“It’s about continuing to play hard each game,” Giolito said. “Coming in with confidence, knowing that we can win, it doesn't matter who the opponent is. We have the talent and we have the ability. So, it's just about going out and playing hard and stacking up 'W's,' no matter who the opponent is.”