The Boston Red Sox’s champagne celebration Wednesday night was strange. There’s no denying that.
Boston won its second American League East title in the last four seasons, despite squandering a three-run lead over the New York Yankees and losing 5-3 in one of the worst ways possible. Craig Kimbrel, the Red Sox’s usually lights-out closer, couldn’t record an out through 28 pitches, loading the bases for Joe Kelly, who gave up a two-out walk-off grand slam to Yankees first baseman Mark Teixeira.
But the Red Sox still deserve to celebrate.
It’s all about perspective for the 2016 Red Sox. This time last season, they had some promising young players, but they still were last place in the division before an eventual 78-84 finish. And more importantly, manager John Farrell was away from the team battling lymphoma.
“I’m fortunate, fortunate to be in this position,” Farrell said, via the Providence Journal’s Tim Britton. “I’m proud to be in this uniform, proud to be associated with our coaches and our players. We had two tough years. But at the same time, it was true meaning in the struggles. We’re benefiting from that now.”
Farrell’s cancer now is in remission, and the whole team is behind him.
“He’s a fighter,” Red Sox outfielder Mookie Betts said. “He’s instilled that in us. You fight to win.”
Betts is a candidate for AL MVP, starter Rick Porcello has the chance to win the AL Cy Young Award, and David Ortiz is putting up historic numbers in his final season. The Red Sox’s starting rotation went from being full of holes to being one of the best in Major League Baseball in the second half. Their offense has been the best in the league all season, and the Red Sox are 18-7 in September, including an 11-game win streak that just ended Tuesday.
So you’ll have to forgive the Red Sox if they get over their last loss more quickly than others.
“I’m going to drown in this, man,” Ortiz said of the champagne flowing freely around the clubhouse, per Britton.
Plus, they haven’t packed it in even a little bit.
“By no means is this the end,” Farrell said. “We’ve got three more stops to meet our goal.”
Here are some more notes from Wednesday’s loss.
Click for the Red Sox Wrap>>
— The bullpen had a rare hiccup, but Clay Buchholz spun a gem Wednesday. The right-hander allowed only one hit through six scoreless innings and now is 4-0 with a 2.63 ERA in his last seven starts. He was in line for the no-decision regardless, as the Red Sox didn’t get on the board until the eighth inning.
— Dustin Pedroia’s ground-rule double in the eighth put the Red Sox second baseman in some pretty elite company.
— Red Sox president Dave Dombrowski usually is a pretty sharp dresser, but he let his hair down to celebrate Wednesday.
— The Texas Rangers beat the Milwaukee Brewers 8-5 on Wednesday, so they’re still in first place in the AL at 94-65. The 92-66 Red Sox held on to second, as the Cleveland Indians lost to the Detroit Tigers 6-3 in a rain-shortened game to drop to 91-67.
Thumbnail photo via Brad Penner/USA TODAY Sports Images
