The Red Sox suffer a 5-4 walk-off loss to the Twins on July 29, 2025. Despite an Alex Bregman homer, a bullpen collapse raises trade deadline questions.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It was a game the Red Sox had in their grasp, only to see it slip away in the most painful fashion. A ninth-inning walk-off by the Minnesota Twins handed Boston a crushing 5-4 defeat to open the series, a loss that felt bigger than just one game in the standings. On a night that started with a promising lead, the final result served as a glaring spotlight on the team's most pressing issue: a bullpen teetering on the edge.
The loss dropped Boston to 57-51, third in the AL East, making every game in the final stretch feel that much more critical.
For a while, it looked like Boston's night. Alex Bregman broke a scoreless tie in the fifth inning with a massive three-run homer, cashing in on a single from Abraham Toro and a walk by Roman Anthony. Starter Richard Fitts was solid, tossing four scoreless innings and keeping the Twins' bats quiet. But the narrative flipped once the bullpen door swung open. A shaky sixth inning from Jorge Alcala, featuring two walks and a sac fly, allowed Minnesota to tie the game and erased all the early momentum. Despite bright spots like Toro's two-hit night and another hit from Ceddanne Rafaela, the offense couldn't muster another run, setting the stage for the ninth-inning heartbreak.
The bullpen's meltdown was made all the more concerning by the absence of All-Star closer Aroldis Chapman, who was sidelined with the back tightness that forced him out of Monday's game. While Manager Alex Cora expects Chapman to be available by Wednesday, his unavailability on Tuesday forced the team into a high-leverage situation without its best arm. This single game perfectly encapsulates the front office's dilemma as the trade deadline clock ticks down. With recent struggles from arms like Alcala, the question is no longer *if* the Red Sox need bullpen help, but *how much* they're willing to give up to get it.
The team continues to navigate other key injuries. Prized prospect Marcelo Mayer remains on the 10-day IL with a right wrist sprain, with no clear timetable for his return as he consults with medical staff. His absence has necessitated the presence of David Hamilton, who was recalled from Worcester on July 25 to provide crucial infield depth. On a more positive note, reliever Zack Kelly is getting closer to a return. He threw another scoreless inning in his rehab assignment with High-A Greenville and is on track for a late-July return, offering a sliver of hope for a beleaguered bullpen.
As the dust settles on a tough loss, the Red Sox don't have time to dwell. They'll need to bounce back immediately in Minnesota to avoid a costly series loss. All eyes will be on the bullpen, both for who takes the mound tomorrow—perhaps with a returned Chapman—and for who the front office might add before the trade deadline. With their spot in the AL East on the line, the next 48 hours could define the trajectory of Boston's season.
