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Red Sox eager to continue road success in matchup vs. A's

Jul 27, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) celebrates with team mates after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn ImagesJul 27, 2026; West Sacramento, California, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela (3) celebrates with team mates after hitting a grand slam during the sixth inning of the game against the Athletics at Sutter Health Park. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-Imagn Images

Ceddanne Rafaela’s first career grand slam narrowly made it over the wall, but those few inches continued the winning ways of the Boston Red Sox.

The Red Sox will look to defeat the Athletics for the second straight night when the teams square off on Tuesday at West Sacramento, Calif.

Rafaela’s homer, which went off the glove of leaping Athletics left fielder Colby Thomas in the sixth inning, accounted for all of his team’s runs in Boston’s 4-2 victory in Monday’s opener of a four-game set.

After hitting the ball, Rafaela slammed his bat to the ground in disgust.

“I thought it was an out,” he said afterward. “I didn’t hit it the way I wanted to, but I hit it enough to go out.”

Athletics manager Mark Kotsay took note of Rafaela’s discontent.

“I’d never seen someone toss the bat to the ground (in that frustrated manner) and be rewarded in that way,” Kotsay said of the grand slam.

The blow was all Boston needed to post its 18th victory in the past 20 games. Equally impressive is that it was the 10th straight road win for the Red Sox.

“I think we have fun playing in front of the crowds that don’t want us to win,” Rafaela said.

Meanwhile, the Athletics have lost 24 of their past 30 games.

Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim each hit a solo homer to account for their scoring on Monday. Heim now will be the Athletics’ primary catcher with All-Star starter Shea Langeliers set to undergo season-ending surgery Tuesday to repair a torn meniscus in his right knee.

The injury ranks as a huge blow for the Athletics, who lost two-time All-Star designated hitter Brent Rooker (left knee) for the season in early June.

“This is another one of our leaders and another middle-of-the-order bat that is done for the season,” Kotsay said. “This is a season that continues to challenge us in different ways. We’ve been challenged before, especially from a depth perspective in the position player group.”

Veteran right-hander Mark Leiter Jr. (right hip impingement) also will undergo surgery on Tuesday.

Infielder Curtis Mead made his Boston debut on Monday but had to exit after 4 1/2 innings with a left wrist contusion. He was hit by a pitch from A’s right-hander Jack Perkins in the fourth.

Red Sox manager Chad Tracy said X-rays were negative on Mead’s wrist.

“He’s sore, and we’re going to take it day-by-day and see how he feels,” Tracy said. “Right now, it looks like we dodged a bullet, maybe.”

Said Mead: “I wanted to come here and help the team. So it was frustrating.”

Mead was acquired from the Washington Nationals for left-hander Connelly Early late Saturday night. Mead hit a career-best 17 homers in 87 games for the Nationals.

“I’ve tried to be super consistent with what I do every day in the cage to prepare, so that when I step in the box, I’m feeling good about myself and can just put all my focus on the ball,” Mead said.

Boston’s Jake Bennett (6-3, 2.58 ERA) will match up against Gage Jump (3-6, 4.42) of the A’s in a battle of rookie left-handers on Tuesday.

Bennett, 25, has won five straight starts and has a 1.40 ERA over his past six turns. He has walked just nine batters in 59 1/3 innings over 10 starts.

Bennett defeated the Baltimore Orioles last Wednesday when he gave up three runs and nine hits over 5 2/3 innings in a 6-3 victory.

Jump has lost five straight starts — with a 9.65 ERA during the stretch — and is winless over his last six turns. He was roughed by the Arizona Diamondbacks last Wednesday when he gave up six runs and eight hits over 4 2/3 innings in a 15-5 defeat.

–Field Level Media

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Conor McGregor calls for 'Last Dance' vs. Max Holloway in '27

Jul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor on the ground during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn ImagesJul 11, 2026; Las Vegas, Nevada, USA; Conor McGregor on the ground during UFC 329 at T-Mobile Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-Imagn Images

Conor McGregor laid out his long-term plan on Monday, seeking a rematch of his recent loss to Max Holloway in what would be the final bout of his UFC deal.

In an Instagram post that references the UFC’s International Fight Week next July, McGregor wrote, “What was to be a generational beating is now to be reset. IFW 2027. The Last Dance.”

Should McGregor oppose Holloway again, it would be the pair’s third matchup.

In a welterweight fight at UFC 329 in Las Vegas on July 11, Holloway (28-9) won by technical knockout in just 69 seconds after McGregor (22-7) hurt his right knee on an early kick.

The two fighters also squared off in August 2013, when McGregor won by unanimous decision.

McGregor, a 38-year-old Irishman, is due to have his torn anterior cruciate ligament surgically repaired, which likely explains the long wait for the rematch.

Even though McGregor recently posted an Instagram video showing him going through leg exercises, UFC president Dana White said Sunday of McGregor, “Conor McGregor’s out for a year.”

The July 11 fight was McGregor’s first action in the Octagon in five years, since a TKO loss to Dustin Poirier at UFC 264 in Las Vegas. McGregor has lost each of his past three bouts and four of the past five.

Holloway, a 34-year-old Honolulu native, dropped a unanimous decision to Charles Oliveira at UFC 326 in March in Las Vegas before bouncing back to defeat McGregor.

–Field Level Media

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2B Curtis Mead (wrist) leaves Red Sox debut; X-rays negative

Jul 22, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A detail view of Boston Red Sox hat and glove laying in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn ImagesJul 22, 2019; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; A detail view of Boston Red Sox hat and glove laying in the dugout at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-Imagn Images

Curtis Mead didn’t make it all the way through his Boston Red Sox debut on Monday, but the team is hopeful his injury isn’t serious.

The second baseman was plunked on the left wrist by a fastball from Athletics right-hander Jack Perkins in the fourth inning of Boston’s 4-2 victory at West Sacramento, Calif.

X-rays were negative, and the Red Sox termed Mead day-to-day with a bruised wrist.

“Squeezing my hand feels OK,” Mead said. “Just a little bit of pain rotating. We already got an X-ray and everything looked OK, so I’m hopeful that I’ll feel better (Tuesday) morning and it won’t be a problem.”

Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy said, “It looks like we dodged a bullet, maybe.”

Mead struck out in his lone at-bat before getting injured.

“Just super disappointed,” Mead said of leaving his club debut. “I wanted to come here and help the team and wanted to play. So yeah, it’s frustrating. But it was a pretty fun game. At least we were able to win my first game. That was the cool part of it.”

On Sunday, the Red Sox acquired Mead from the Washington Nationals in exchange for left-hander Connelly Early.

Mead was enjoying the best of his four major league seasons before the swap. In 87 games for Washington this year, he hit .254 with 17 homers, 17 doubles and 48 RBIs — all career highs.

The 25-year-old Australian played for the Tampa Bay Rays (2023-25) and the Chicago White Sox (2025) before the Nationals traded for him just before the start of the 2026 season.

In 240 career games, Mead owns a .244 batting average, a .321 on-base percentage, a .388 slugging percentage, 22 homers and 79 RBIs.

–Field Level Media

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MLB roundup: Marlins end 12-game skid by overtaking Phillies in ninth

Jul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA;  Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack (80) douses left fielder Griffin Conine (18) after his winning hit against the Philadelphia Phillies following the game at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn ImagesJul 27, 2026; Miami, Florida, USA; Miami Marlins catcher Joe Mack (80) douses left fielder Griffin Conine (18) after his winning hit against the Philadelphia Phillies following the game at loanDepot Park. Mandatory Credit: Rhona Wise-Imagn Images

Griffin Conine’s walk-off single capped a three-run ninth inning for the Miami Marlins, who snapped a franchise-record 12-game losing streak with an 8-7 win over the visiting Philadelphia Phillies on Monday.

Heriberto Hernandez and Conine homered for Miami, which had not won since July 9. The Marlins appeared destined for another defeat before Hernandez’s two-run single tied it against Jhoan Duran (1-4), who had previously blown only one save this season.

Bryce Harper hit an early two-run homer and J.T. Realmuto also had two RBIs for Philadelphia, which has lost seven of 10 since the All-Star break. Zack Wheeler struggled through three innings, allowing a season-high five runs and six hits.

With Miami trailing 7-5, Jakob Marsee opened the ninth with a single up the middle and advanced to third on Otto Lopez’s single to right. Duran hit Kyle Stowers with a pitch, loading the bases for Hernandez, whose single up the middle tied the game.

Pirates 3, Diamondbacks 2 (10 innings)

Brandon Lowe’s RBI single in the bottom of the 10th inning scored Billy Cook and propelled host Pittsburgh to a victory over Arizona.

Lowe’s game-winner off Diamondbacks reliever Taylor Clarke (2-2) was a liner that got past first baseman Ildemaro Vargas. Lowe finished with three hits and two RBIs.

Max Kepler had three hits, drove two runs and had a chance to give the Diamondbacks a lead in the top of the 10th. However, with the bases loaded and two outs, Kepler lined out to center against Mason Montgomery (4-3).

Yankees 9, White Sox 5

Jazz Chisholm Jr. had two hits and two RBIs and Ali Sanchez blasted his first major league homer in the eighth inning to break the game open as visiting New York defeated Chicago.

New York overcame an early three-run deficit for its fourth win in five games. The Yankees scored a total of five runs in the seventh and eighth innings and navigated two errors in the ninth to hold on. Jasson Dominguez and Ben Rice contributed two hits each for New York.

AL Central-leading Chicago committed three errors as its lead over the second-place Cleveland Guardians fell to two games. The White Sox have lost three of their past four. Chicago reliever Bryan Hudson (3-4) allowed one run and two hits in the seventh.

Mets 14, Braves 3

Francisco Lindor hit two homers and drove in six runs as New York battered visiting Atlanta.

Tyrone Taylor went 3-for-5 with a three-run homer and Marcus Semien also had three hits and a homer for the Mets, who have won consecutive games for the first time since July 8-9. New York starter Zac Thornton (2-1) tossed 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs on six hits.

Braves reliever Connor Thomas (0-1) was blasted for 11 runs on 10 hits across 2 2/3 innings. Ozzie Albies homered, singled and drove in three for Atlanta.

Rangers 7, Mariners 3

Joc Pederson homered in each of the first two innings as Texas defeated Seattle in Arlington, Texas.

Ezequiel Duran and Jake Burger both homered in the third for the Rangers, who won three of four games in the series to take a 2 1/2-game lead over the Mariners atop the AL West. Brandon Nimmo hit a pair of doubles and Evan Carter had another as seven of the Rangers’ 11 hits were for extra bases.

Randy Arozarena went deep for the Mariners, who have lost five of their past six.

Orioles 8, Tigers 5

Coby Mayo homered and drove in three runs as visiting Baltimore powered past Detroit.

Leody Taveras and pinch hitter Tyler O’Neill also homered for the Orioles, while Jackson Holliday supplied four hits and scored twice. Grant Wolfram (3-2) pitched 1 1/3 innings of scoreless relief and was credited with the victory.

Hao-Yu Lee drove in two runs for the Tigers, who have lost three straight. Spencer Torkelson and Zach McKinstry each had two hits, a run and an RBI. Detroit starter Keider Montero (7-6) allowed six runs, four earned, and nine hits in 4 1/3 innings.

Blue Jays 3, Nationals 2

Luis Urias homered, Myles Straw had two hits and Toronto beat the Nationals in Max Scherzer’s return to Washington.

Scherzer, who spent 6 1/2 seasons in Washington and won a World Series with the Nationals in 2019, came off the injured list to make the start. He gave up a run on four hits in 2 2/3 innings. Mason Fluharty (5-1) pitched 1 1/3 scoreless innings for the win for the Blue Jays, who have alternated losses and wins for six games.

Andres Chaparro homered for the Nationals, who had won two straight. Nationals opener Eddy Yean (0-1) gave up two runs on three hits in 2 1/3 innings.

Cubs 7, Cardinals 3

Alex Bregman and Nico Hoerner homered and had four hits apiece as Chicago opened a four-game series at St. Louis with a win.

Bregman doubled twice and drove in two runs and Hoerner had four RBIs for the Cubs, who tallied 14 hits and won for the third time in four games. David Peterson (6-7) allowed two runs on three hits over 5 2/3 innings.

Jose Fermin hit a solo homer and Masyn Winn had two hits for the Cardinals, who have lost eight of 11 games since the All-Star break. Matthew Liberatore (5-8) gave up three runs on eight hits over 3 2/3 innings.

Astros 6, Angels 4

LaMonte Wade Jr. drove in the go-ahead run with a bases-loaded walk during a four-run ninth inning as Houston rallied past Los Angeles in Anaheim, Calif.

The decisive rally featured just one hit, a single that did not knock in a run. Taylor Trammell homered, walked twice, was hit by a pitch and scored twice as Houston earned its sixth win in seven games. Astros reliever Cristian Javier (1-1) allowed three hits and no walks over five shutout innings, striking out seven.

Vaughn Grissom went 3-for-5 with a home run and two RBIs for Los Angeles, which lost for the ninth time this season when leading after eight innings. Jose Fermin (3-2) was charged with three runs, one earned, while recording only one out.

Red Sox 4, Athletics 2

Ceddanne Rafaela smacked his first career grand slam and scorching Boston won for the 18th time in 20 games, beating the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif.

Payton Tolle (6-6) struck out seven and gave up two runs over 5 1/3 innings for the Red Sox. Aroldis Chapman worked out of a ninth-inning jam for his 25th save in 27 opportunities.

Tyler Soderstrom and Jonah Heim homered for the Athletics, who lost for the 24th time in their past 30 games. A’s starter Jack Perkins (2-6) was charged with two runs and one hit over 5 2/3 innings.

Giants 3, Brewers 0

Tyler Mahle limited Milwaukee to three hits over six-plus innings, Grant McCray smacked a two-run homer and San Francisco defeated the visiting National League Central leaders.

Mahle (3-9) never allowed a runner past second base, aided by three double plays. En route to their third win in four games on their current homestand, the Giants took the lead for good in the third.

Brewers starter Brandon Sproat (3-6) went six innings and was charged with all three Giants runs on six hits.

–Field Level Media

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