The Red Sox’ schedule is only getting harder, but it’s clear that it doesn’t matter who their opponent is right now. They just continue to roll.
The Sox surged back into the playoff hunt with the help of a schedule littered with struggling and below .500 teams over the last six weeks. But they walked into Progressive Field in Cleveland on Friday facing a stretch of 36 games that includes 33 against playoff contenders, starting with three against the resurgent Guardians.
They walked out with a sweep.
Facing a Guardians team that had won 18 of their previous 24 and seven consecutive series heading into the weekend, the Red Sox continued to solidify themselves as one of the top teams in the American League as their remarkable turnaround rolled on. Sunday’s 8-3 victory – led by six strong innings from Rich Hill and another balanced offensive effort – capped another sweep as the Red Sox extended their winning streak to seven, matching their season high.
Next up, a trip to Toronto, where the Red Sox (42-31) will play another big series against the Blue Jays to finish June, a month in which they’re already 19-4. They’re 32-12 since May 10.
Even as the Red Sox continue to be without key starters Nathan Eovaldi and Garrett Whitlock, their starting pitching – which has been critical to their resurgence – set the tone again on Sunday. And their offense continued to put pressure on Cleveland, spraying 15 hits and drawing a season-high 11 walks as they put away the Guardians.
Hill wasn’t his sharpest – he issued four walks over six innings – but he worked himself out of several jams. He put himself in trouble in several situations, including in the third when he gave up a double to Myles Straw and a four-pitch walk to Owen Miller, which required a mound visit. But the veteran lefty induced some luck as Amed Rosario hit a liner straight to Rafael Devers, who proceeded to double off Straw at second.
Hill induced three double plays as he got through six innings allowing just one run as he gave the Red Sox’ unrelenting offense an easy chance to win. Red Sox starters have posted a 2.37 ERA in June, the best mark in the majors as the rotation has continued to be a signature point of their success.
