Trevor Story's 3-run HR powered the battered Red Sox past the Reds 7-3 on July 1, 2025. Richard Fitts battled as Boston's offense came alive for a key win.
StatPro MLB Beat Reporter
For a team running on fumes and held together by duct tape, Tuesday night felt like a massive exhale. The Boston Red Sox, weathering an injury storm of epic proportions, found their footing at Fenway Park, dispatching the Cincinnati Reds 7-3 thanks to a timely power surge and some gutsy pitching.
Trevor Story delivered the key blow with a three-run home run to center field, his 12th of the season, putting Boston firmly in control.
The bats, which have been inconsistent during a recent 3-7 slump, woke up early and often. Jarren Duran set the table, going 2-for-4 with two runs, and the youth movement contributed with Roman Anthony driving in a run. Marcelo Mayer chipped in with a run-scoring double, but the main event came in the third inning. With the game in the balance, Trevor Story stepped up and launched a towering three-run shot to center, his 12th of the year. It was the kind of decisive, game-breaking hit this team has been desperately craving.
Starter Richard Fitts didn't get the win, but he gave the team exactly what it needed: a chance. The righty battled through 5.2 innings, allowing three runs but keeping the Reds' potent offense, led by Elly De La Cruz, mostly in check. He fanned six before turning it over to a bullpen that has been stretched incredibly thin. That depleted relief corps was flawless, tossing 3.1 scoreless innings to slam the door and secure the much-needed victory.
To truly appreciate this win, you have to look at who *wasn't* on the field. The injured list reads like an All-Star ballot: Alex Bregman, Triston Casas, Masataka Yoshida, Kutter Crawford, and Tanner Houck are all sidelined. That's not to mention a bullpen missing key arms like Justin Slaten, Liam Hendriks, and others. Winning any game is tough in the majors; winning with this many core players out is a testament to the 'next man up' mentality the club has preached all season.
While the big-league club fights to stay afloat, the future continues to look bright. Down on the farm, the team's No. 10 prospect put on a show at Double-A Portland, firing six completely hitless innings. It's another sign that the pitching pipeline is churning out legitimate talent, providing a silver lining and a reminder that more help is on the way.
One win doesn't erase a tough stretch, but this one felt different. With a 2-0 series lead now secured over the Reds, the Sox have a chance to build some real momentum. As they fight to get back over .500, every game is a battle of attrition. Tuesday night, they won that battle, proving that even a battered and bruised team can still land a knockout punch.
