Red Sox Tie Franchise Record with 15th Straight Win, Beat Orioles 6-3

The Boston Red Sox beat the Baltimore Orioles 6-3 in the opener of a Wednesday day-night doubleheader at Fenway Park, extending their winning streak to 15 games and tying the longest streak in franchise history. The mark matches the run put together by the 1946 Red Sox, a club that went on to win the American League pennant.

The victory came in the first game of a split-admission doubleheader created when Tuesday’s matchup was postponed by rain. It also underscored Boston’s rapid climb back into the playoff race. According to MLB.com, the Red Sox have won 20 of their last 22 games and, after Wednesday’s Game 1 win, held an American League Wild Card spot while trailing the Tampa Bay Rays by six games in the AL East.

Boston seized control immediately with a four-run first inning. Caleb Durbin drove in two with a single, and Jarren Duran followed with a two-run triple as the Red Sox put Baltimore on its heels early. Duran added a sacrifice fly in the third inning, and Ceddanne Rafaela hit his ninth home run of the season in the fourth to give Boston all the offense it needed.

Rookie left-hander Jake Bennett earned the win for Boston after working 5 2/3 innings. He allowed nine hits and three runs, struck out four and did not issue a walk. Aroldis Chapman finished the game for the Red Sox.

The streak is even more striking given where Boston stood a month ago. The Red Sox were 32-46 and in last place in the AL East as recently as June 24 before turning their season around and pushing back into contention. For 80 years, the 1946 club had stood alone with the franchise’s longest winning streak at 15 games.

The run also carries broader significance beyond Boston. MLB.com reported that this is only the eighth time in the expansion era, which began in 1961, that a major league team has won 15 straight games in a single season. The Red Sox were set to play Game 2 of the doubleheader later Wednesday, with first pitch scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.