The Boston Red Sox secured a resounding 9-4 victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers at Dodger Stadium on July 31, 2026.
The Red Sox's bullpen came up big, with Brayan Bello delivering four scoreless innings against the Dodgers' formidable lineup. Bello's performance was particularly notable, as he held off the likes of Shohei Ohtani, Freddie Freeman, and Mookie Betts without allowing a single run.
Boston's offense got off to a strong start, with Masataka Yoshida bringing home two runs in the third inning on a bouncer that Freddie Freeman misread. The Red Sox continued to pile on runs, eventually taking a 9-4 lead in the seventh inning.
Ceddanne Rafaela was a standout performer, hitting a go-ahead homer in the seventh inning that broke the Dodgers' back. Rafaela's clutch hitting has been a hallmark of his season, and he's been instrumental in the Red Sox's success.
Ranger Suarez started for the Red Sox, pitching 4.2 innings before being relieved by Bello. Suarez's outing was decent enough, but the Red Sox's bullpen ultimately stole the show.
The Dodgers' lineup is indeed intimidating on paper, but the Red Sox's bullpen held strong against the challenge. Bello's performance in particular was a revelation, as he's struggled as a starter but excelled as a reliever.
Boston's win marked a successful end to the month of July, with the Red Sox going 21-4 – the best month by win percentage in franchise history.
The Red Sox will look to build on this momentum as they head into the stretch run. With the trade deadline looming on Monday, the team's front office will be watching Bello's performance closely. Will the Red Sox decide to keep Bello in the bullpen, or will they give him a shot as a starter? Only time will tell.
Source: Yahoo Sports