Sports
For Red Sox, baseball suddenly is 'fun' as White Sox feel the opposite
Jul 8, 2026; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Tsung-Che Cheng (39) hits an RBI-single against the Chicago White Sox during the fourth inning at Rate Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-Imagn Images With separate five-game winning streaks in the past two weeks, the Boston Red Sox continue to roll.
On Thursday afternoon, they’ll aim to keep a perfect road trip going and secure a sweep of the slumping Chicago White Sox.
Boston is 5-0 to start a nine-game trip entering the All-Star break and has won 10 of its past 12 games overall. The Red Sox beat Chicago 5-0 Wednesday night to earn a series victory against the White Sox, who have lost five of their past seven contests.
“Man, we’re having fun,” Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. “It definitely feels different in the clubhouse, different in the dugout. I mean, we’re clicking. So, it’s a lot of fun when you’re stringing some wins together and obviously feels the best it’s felt yet.”
Chicago suddenly is feeling opposite vibes. The White Sox still lead the Cleveland Guardians by one game atop the American League Central despite their slump, but a potent lineup has gone cold to begin a six-game homestand.
Red Sox rookie left-handers Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have combined to limit Chicago to eight hits in the series. The White Sox, fourth in the majors in home runs, have not scored in the past 11 innings.
“A couple tough arms, you know,” White Sox manager Will Venable said. “These big lefties have really good fastballs and a lot of extension; these fastballs get on you a lot. We’ve just been seeing a lot of foul balls. … Just got to continue to compete.”
White Sox shortstop Luisangel Acuna collected two of the team’s four hits in Wednesday’s shutout loss. Colson Montgomery struck out three times and is 0-for-8 in the series.
Meanwhile, three Red Sox delivered two-hit games Wednesday. Tsung-Che Cheng had a pair of RBI singles while Ceddanne Rafaela and Durbin also had two hits.
Left-hander Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.29 ERA) will aim to help the White Sox salvage a game in the series while trying for his first victory since June 12.
Kay has worked four innings or less in three of his past four starts. That includes last Thursday’s no-decision at Cleveland, when he spaced one run and one hit in four innings with two walks and two strikeouts before storms forced a lengthy rain delay that kept him from returning. Chicago lost 6-5.
Kay is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in five relief appearances vs. Boston, scattering 10 strikeouts and 10 hits in eight innings.
Boston left-hander Patrick Sandoval will oppose Kay in his first major league appearance since June 21, 2024, following a recovery from Tommy John surgery and other injuries. The Red Sox activated Sandoval from the 60-day injured list on Monday.
“This whole process has been mentally draining and challenging, obviously,” Sandoval said. “The physical stuff, the setbacks and the pain, or whatever, but it took a toll mentally, for sure, and it just taught me a lot.”
Sandoval is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox covering 15 1/3 innings.
Red Sox infielders Willson Contreras (left foot contusion) and Anthony Seigler (right trapezius contusion) left Wednesday’s game in the third inning due to injuries.
Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said after the game that Contreras could put weight on his foot and Seigler was experiencing soreness. Contreras told reporters he believes his injury is day-to-day.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Mets score 5 runs in eighth to top Royals
Jul 8, 2026; New York City, New York, USA; New York Mets second baseman Brett Baty (7) hits a two run single in the eighth inning against the Kansas City Royals at Citi Field. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images Brett Baty delivered a two-RBI single during a five-run eighth inning Wednesday night for the host New York Mets, who beat the Kansas City Royals 6-2 in the middle game of a three-game interleague series.
In a tie game, Royals right-hander Alex Lange (0-4) retired Juan Soto and Bo Bichette on groundouts before Francisco Lindor began the rally with a single. Carson Benge walked and Jorge Polanco legged out an infield single to load the bases for Jared Young, who was hit by a pitch to force home Lindor.
Baty followed four pitches later with his hit to center for a 4-1 lead. Jose Cuas entered and uncorked a wild pitch, which allowed Young to race home. Francisco Alvarez added an RBI single.
Brooks Raley (3-3), the third of four Mets pitchers, allowed one hit a scoreless top of the eighth.
A.J. Ewing hit a leadoff homer and finished with two hits for the Mets, who have won three of four.
New York starter Christian Scott gave up three hits and walked one while striking out five over five scoreless frames.
Salvador Perez tied the game with a run-scoring single in the sixth for the Royals, who had their three-game winning streak snapped. Kansas City scored 36 runs in the three previous victories.
Carter Jensen added an RBI double in the ninth and was one of eight Kansas City players with one hit apiece.
Royals right-hander Steven Cruz, who was serving as an opener for the second time this season, whiffed two while throwing 14 pitches in the first inning. Bulk reliever Randy Dobnak allowed three hits and three walks while striking out two over 5 2/3 scoreless innings.
Ewing hit Cruz’s third pitch over the right-center field fence for the seventh homer of his rookie season and his first leadoff shot.
The Royals mounted just one threat against Scott, who walked Nick Loftin with two outs in the second before Loftin went to third on Isaac Collins’ single. Scott then got Tyler Tolbert to pop out.
Scott allowed just one baserunner over his final three innings before the Royals rallied in the sixth against Tobias Myers. Jac Caglianone hit a one-out double and scored on Perez’s two-out single to left.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Michael McGreevy carries Cardinals to win against Brewers
Jul 8, 2026; St. Louis, Missouri, USA; St. Louis Cardinals starting pitcher Michael McGreevy (36) throws against the Milwaukee Brewers during the second inning at Busch Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Curry-Imagn Images Michael McGreevy tossed a season-high 6 1/3 innings Wednesday to get his first win in two months for the St. Louis Cardinals, who snapped a four-game losing streak with a 5-1 victory over the visiting Milwaukee Brewers.
Pitching on his 26th birthday, McGreevy (4-7) received support from Alec Burleson and Jose Fermin, both of whom homered. Burleson went 2-for-4 with three RBIs and added a double. Jordan Walker also doubled as part of a 2-for-4 evening, scoring twice.
The Cardinals pushed McGreevy’s scheduled start back as part of an effort to protect several pitchers heading into next week’s All-Star break. That move paid off as the right-hander pitched into the seventh inning for the first time this season. He allowed just one run, which Milwaukee scored in the seventh, on five hits and a walk. McGreevy struck out six, his highest total since getting that many against the Brewers on May 26.
However, it did not start easily for him. He opened the game by allowing Christian Yelich to single and walking Jake Bauers one out later. The Brewers loaded the bases, but McGreevy escaped by getting Luis Lara on a chopper to Blaze Jordan at third.
St. Louis gave McGreevy a lead in the bottom of the first. Doubles by Masyn Winn and Walker off Kyle Harrison (8-2) started the scoring, and Burleson’s two-out two-bagger made it 2-0.
McGreevy gave up a leadoff single to Cooper Pratt in the second, but the rookie shortstop was caught stealing. After that, the Cardinals hurler retired the next 15 batters. He left after giving up a double to Garrett Mitchell and a single to Lara, with Pratt scoring Mitchell on a sacrifice fly off Luis Gastelum, who made his big-league debut after St. Louis promoted him earlier Wednesday.
Pratt went 2-for-3 and Mitchell finished 2-for-4 for the Brewers, whose four-game winning streak came to an end.
Fermin homered with one out in the fourth, and Burleson blasted a 443-foot two-run shot to right off Jared Koenig in the sixth.
Harrison lasted four innings, giving up three runs on four hits. He struck out a pair without issuing a walk.
–Field Level Media
Sports
Angels end 7-game skid with offensive outburst against Rangers
Jul 8, 2026; Arlington, Texas, USA; Los Angeles Angels right fielder Jo Adell celebrates after he hits a three run home run against the Texas Rangers during the fifth inning at Globe Life Field. Jo Adell hit two homers and drove in a career-high five runs as the Los Angeles Angels snapped a seven-game losing streak with a 13-1 rout of the Texas Rangers on Wednesday night in Arlington, Texas.
Vaughn Grissom had four hits and four RBIs and Mike Trout homered in his return off the injured list for the Angels.
It was the 10th multi-home run game of Adell’s career. Zach Neto went 3-for-5 with two doubles and three runs. Denzer Guzman doubled and singled, and Jose Siri had two hits and an RBI. Josh Lowe scored twice for Los Angeles, which finished with 15 hits.
Trout, sidelined since June 18 with a right hamstring injury, went 1-for-4 with a walk, two RBIs and two runs while playing designated hitter.
Samy Natera Jr. (1-0) picked up his first major league victory in relief of Walbert Urena, striking out five of the six batters he faced during two perfect innings. Urena gave up only a third-inning single to left by Josh Smith, who was thrown out at second by Lowe trying to stretch it into a double.
Kyle Higashioka homered for Texas, which finished with just three hits. MacKenzie Gore (5-8) allowed seven runs on nine hits in five innings. He walked one and struck out seven.
Los Angeles took a 1-0 lead in the first inning when Neto led off with a double into the left field corner and scored one out later on Grissom’s single to center.
Adell extended the lead to 3-0 in the fourth with a two-run opposite-field homer to right, driving in Grissom, who had singled.
The Angels then broke the game open with a four-run fifth inning, highlighted by a 433-foot three-run homer to left-center by Adell.
Grissom extended the lead to 9-0 in the sixth with a two-run double. Trout, celebrating the 15-year anniversary of his major league debut, made it 11-0 with a two-run homer in the eighth, a 438-foot drive to left.
–Field Level Media
Mets score 5 runs in eighth to top Royals
Michael McGreevy carries Cardinals to win against Brewers
