Wilyer Abreu's clutch hit leads the Red Sox past the Reds 5-3 on July 2, 2025. Brayan Bello shines in relief to pull Boston one game shy of .500.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
It took two days, a rain delay, and a nearly empty Fenway Park, but the Boston Red Sox finally put away the Cincinnati Reds. In a bizarre Wednesday matinee conclusion to Tuesday's suspended game, the Sox showed their resilience, breaking an eighth-inning tie to secure a crucial 5-3 victory and pull within a single game of .500.
With two outs and the game on the line, Wilyer Abreu ripped a single to center, breaking the deadlock and reminding everyone that this team, even at 43-44, doesn't quit.
The game resumed in the bottom of the fifth, a strange sight for the few thousand fans who made it back for the afternoon affair. After Spencer Steer's two-run homer for the Reds tied it up, the game settled into a tense stalemate. Then came the eighth. With two outs, Wilyer Abreu stepped up and delivered the biggest hit of the day, a sharp single that scored the go-ahead run. Trevor Story immediately followed with an RBI double, providing the insurance run that sealed the deal. It was a classic display of clutch, late-inning offense that this team desperately needed.
While the bats came through late, the unsung hero was Brayan Bello (4-3), who was magnificent out of the bullpen. Bello tossed five innings of relief, stabilizing the game and giving the offense a chance to wake up. It was a bulldog performance that saved the rest of the bullpen for the nightcap. To cap it off, Aroldis Chapman came on for the ninth, shutting the door with authority for his 15th save of the season against his former team.
The doubleheader necessitated some roster juggling. The Sox recalled RHP Cooper Criswell from Triple-A Worcester as their 27th man, a necessary move to provide pitching depth for the long day. This flexibility is key as the team navigates a tough schedule while dealing with a number of injuries to key arms. The health of the pitching staff remains a constant concern, with several players on the mend.
On the injury front, there's a mixed bag of news. RHP Hunter Dobbins is nearing a rehab start, which is a positive sign. However, the outlook for others is less clear. Justin Slaten remains on the 60-day IL, and the devastating news about Triston Casas—out for the season with a ruptured patellar tendon—still stings. Casas confirmed he hopes to be back for Opening Day 2026, a reminder of the long road ahead for the young first baseman and the hole his absence leaves in the lineup.
One game down, one to go. This gritty, unorthodox win puts the Sox on the doorstep of .500, a milestone that has felt just out of reach for weeks. With the nightcap against the Reds looming, Boston has a chance to build real momentum. This is the kind of character-building win that can define a stretch of the season. Let's see if they can carry it over and finally climb back to even.
