Alex Bregman's solo HR and a dominant bullpen led the Red Sox to a 2-0 shutout of the Mariners on June 17, 2025. Can Boston sustain this winning formula?
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
The Boston Red Sox are back to .500, and they did it the old-fashioned way: with dominant pitching and a single, decisive swing of the bat. Alex Bregman's solo home run was all the offense Boston needed as the pitching staff completely silenced the Seattle Mariners in a 2-0 shutout victory at T-Mobile Park. The win marks Boston's second in a row, pushing their record to 10-10 and keeping them within striking distance in the AL East.
'You pitch [well], you’re throwing strikes, the defense is going to be better... pitching and defense are the pillars of baseball.' - Alex Cora
In a classic pitcher's duel, runs were at a premium, but Alex Bregman delivered the game's biggest moment. His home run provided the necessary spark, pushing his season average to an impressive .321 with 4 homers and 16 RBI. On a night where hits were scarce, Bregman's power was the difference-maker, proving his value in the heart of the Boston lineup.
The real story of the night was the masterful performance from the Boston pitching staff. Piecing together nine scoreless innings, the arms—particularly the bullpen—were untouchable. This performance perfectly embodies Manager Alex Cora's philosophy. However, it also highlights a worrying trend: Boston's relievers have thrown the sixth-most innings in the entire league. While their success is commendable, the workload is a major concern for the long haul.
Help might be on the way for the taxed bullpen. Relievers Hobie Harris (shoulder) and Jovani Moran (elbow) are both nearing a return and could be activated soon, providing much-needed fresh arms. Their return will be critical as the team continues to navigate injuries to other key pitchers like Tanner Houck, Kutter Crawford, and Liam Hendriks. On the offensive side, fans are also eagerly awaiting the return of outfielder Wilyer Abreu, who is targeting the upcoming San Francisco series to rejoin the club.
With the team back at .500 and showing a clear formula for success—strong pitching and timely hitting—the question now is sustainability. Can the starters begin to pitch deeper into games to ease the burden on a heavily-used bullpen? The potential return of key arms like Harris and Moran couldn't come at a better time. As the Sox look to build on this momentum, all eyes will be on the pitching staff to see if they can keep this dominant streak alive.
