Christian Encarnacion-Strand's 7th-inning grand slam leads the Reds to an 8-4 win over the Red Sox on July 3, 2025, spoiling Boston's sweep hopes.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
Just when a series sweep against the Reds felt within reach, one swing of the bat changed everything. A late-night heartbreaker at Fenway saw Christian Encarnacion-Strand launch a devastating grand slam, powering a five-run seventh inning for Cincinnati and handing the Red Sox a deflating 8-4 loss. The defeat snapped Boston's momentum and served as a harsh reminder of how quickly fortunes can turn in a nine-inning game.
Greg Weissert surrendered five runs in the seventh, erasing what had been 5 2/3 scoreless innings from the Boston bullpen.
It was a game of inches and moments that ultimately tilted Cincinnati's way. The Red Sox offense showed life, with Wilyer Abreu launching a two-run homer and Romy Gonzalez driving in two, including an RBI double that pulled Boston within a run at 5-4 in the bottom of the seventh. The bullpen, a key focus lately, was brilliant for most of the night. Brennan Bernardino, Jorge Alcala, and the newly returned Chris Murphy combined for 5 2/3 shutout innings of relief. But the magic ran out when Greg Weissert entered. The righty was tagged for five runs, capped by Encarnacion-Strand's first-ever grand slam, turning a potential win into a lopsided loss and preventing the three-game sweep.
The late-game collapse underscored the team's recent focus on bullpen depth. In a move to add a fresh arm after a taxing series, the Sox recalled righty Cooper Criswell from Worcester as the 27th man. His arrival comes on the heels of more significant reinforcements. Jordan Hicks was just reinstated from the IL on June 30, bringing his high-velocity arm back to the late innings. Lefty Chris Murphy also made his triumphant return from Tommy John surgery on June 28, looking sharp in his first big-league action since 2023. While the result against the Reds was painful, having Hicks and Murphy back in the fold is critical for the long haul. To make room, Zack Kelly and Nick Sogard were optioned to Triple-A.
While the big-league club deals with its ups and downs, positive news is emerging from the training room. Pitching prospect Hunter Dobbins (right elbow strain) threw a bullpen session at Fenway and is slated for a minor league rehab start soon. Justin Slaten (shoulder inflammation) has also resumed throwing, eyeing a potential return after July 28. While Luis Guerrero remains on the IL, and Triston Casas is unfortunately out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon, seeing key arms progress is a welcome sight. The team also welcomed back top prospect Marcelo Mayer from the bereavement list, a key piece for the organization's future, reinforcing the infield depth.
Last night's loss was a tough pill to swallow, especially with a sweep on the line. But with key arms like Hicks and Murphy back in the bullpen and young talent getting healthy in the minors, the pieces are still in place. This team has shown its resilience before. Now, as they head into the Fourth of July weekend, the challenge is to shake off this loss, integrate the new and returning arms effectively, and prove that one bad inning doesn't define their season.
