MLB
Boston Red Sox Clinch Home-Field Advantage Throughout the Postseason
Well, it’s official: the Boston Red Sox are a pretty good baseball team. With their 6-2 win over lowly Baltimore, the Red Sox broke their franchise record for wins in a season with their 106th win. Ironically enough, they’ve been a franchise exactly 106 years. This win clinches home-field advantage for Boston throughout the postseason.
Not a surprise
Most fans would hardly call this a surprise, as we have assumed for months they’d be the #1 overall seed. Boston has dominated from day 1, and have several games left and a legitimate shot at 110 wins. To me, it’s a shock when Boston ever loses.
Mookie Betts led the way with two knocks, and Nathan Eovaldi breezed through the Orioles hitters. But so has anyone who has faced them this year, and I’m confident my grandmother could throw a quality start vs. Baltimore. The Orioles are up to 111 losses, succeeding in their quest to lose more than Boston wins. So in a sense, they also had a clinching moment last night.
Can they keep it going?
While Boston’s regular season dominance has been evident, their fans will feel unease heading into the postseason. And rightly so. Their current starting rotation has a combined 15 starts in the playoffs, and a shocking 0 victories. Their #2 starter, David Price, has a playoff ERA of well over 7.
The Boston Red Sox are having a historic season. There’s no doubt about that. The question is, can they parlay that into playoff success? Anything less than another World Series ring will be considered a failure for this team. Red Sox fans have reason to be excited, but also reasons to be very nervous. Will MVP candidates Betts and J.D. Martinez be able to ease their fans’ concerns? The baseball world can only wait and see.
