Red Sox Notes: Boston’s Youth Encourages With Season-Ending Win

BOSTON — The Red Sox had losing records in each of the last two seasons. There’s no postseason berth once again in 2024, but there’s no losing record to show either.

The Red Sox defeated the Tampa Bay Rays in a 3-1 win at Fenway Park on Sunday, finishing the season exactly at .500 with an 81-81 record. Alex Cora shared that while there’s an obvious level of “disappointment” surrounding the ballclub after momentum at the All-Star break, positive signs still rose from this season.

“There were a lot of good things that happened this year as far as structure and the vision,” Cora said. “We’re getting there. We are. There’s no moral victories in the season and all that.

Youth development and offseason possibilities have Cora feeling “much better” as 2024 ends than he did a year ago.

“It all depends how you see it,” Cora added. “For us and winning, you saw it, 30,000 people screaming at the end, regardless of the season that we’ve had. … It’s just a special place. They cheer for us. We do everything possible to win every game of the season. Today was good for them It was good for the group. It’s always good to end the season on a positive note. Now, we must turn the page and be ready for the offseason.”

Boston now shifts to the offseason and a rather consequential one at that with several decisions to make for the roster as the Red Sox now have a three-year drought to break from postseason play.

Here are more notes from Sunday’s Rays-Red Sox game…

— The Red Sox finished at .500 for just the fourth time in franchise history and 81-81 for the second time along with 1985, per team PR.

— Quinn Priester went five strong innings, allowing just one earned run with two strikeouts.

“Good stuff, threw strikes,” Cora said. “We played good defense behind him. A few double plays. Kept the ball on the ground. He was good.”

— Vaughn Grissom accounted for all three runs on Sunday with two runs scored as well as an RBI double. The 23-year-old hit .333 during September for the Red Sox.

— Boston finishes in third place in the American League East for the first time since 2019 when the ballclub went 84-78.

— Joe Castiglione finished off his legendary Red Sox career after 42 seasons in the broadcast booth as Boston honored him with a pregame ceremony.

— The Red Sox will open the 2025 season on March 27 at Globe Life Field against the Texas Rangers.