BREAKING: The Oakland Athletics delivered a stunning upset against the Boston Red Sox, winning 5-4 in a thrilling ninth-inning comeback, snapping the Red Sox’s series sweep attempt. The A’s victory marks a notable moment as Aroldis Chapman allowed his first hit since July 23, breaking an impressive streak of 50 batters without a hit across 17 appearances, the third-longest in MLB history since 1901.
Shea Langeliers ignited the ninth inning with a double against Chapman, who had set a franchise record for consecutive hitless appearances, trailing only Randy Choate and Tim Byrdak in MLB history. With Langeliers on second after a flyout, rookie Lawrence Butler sealed the game with a clutch RBI single off a blistering 100.2 mph fastball.
This loss marks the Red Sox’s major league-high 12th walk-off defeat of the season, highlighting their struggles in critical moments. The A’s, who had been blanked in the first two games of the series, finally broke through, with Langeliers also hitting his career-high 30th homer, bringing excitement to the West Sacramento crowd.
Nick Kurtz contributed to the A’s offensive surge with a powerful 357-foot home run in the second inning, making him the 32nd player to hit 30 homers as a rookie, joining legends like Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. The A’s rookie Jacob Wilson maintained a strong performance, going 1 for 4 and batting an impressive .319, just behind Yankees’ Aaron Judge.
In a back-and-forth game, the Red Sox initially took the lead with RBI doubles from Nate Eaton and Trevor Story, pushing the score to 3-2 in the fourth inning. However, Tyler Soderstrom’s clutch two-run double in the fifth gave the A’s a brief 4-3 lead.
In the ninth, Rob Refsnyder’s RBI double off Elvis Alvarado equalized the game at 4-4, setting the stage for the A’s dramatic finish. Hogan Harris, who improved to 2-1, struck out Jarren Duran and secured the win by retiring Alex Bregman.
The A’s victory not only boosts their morale but also poses a significant challenge for the Red Sox as they continue to face increasing pressure amid a tough season. As fans reflect on this electrifying game, attention turns to how both teams will adjust moving forward.
Stay tuned for more updates on this developing story and the implications for both teams as the MLB season progresses.