Red Sox sweep Orioles as young core fuels wild-card push

Boston’s young core and an improving rotation carried the Red Sox to a sweep of the Baltimore Orioles this week, a run of results that reinforced Boston’s place near the top of the AL wild card picture even as the club navigates injuries and a search for rotation depth. The Red Sox won 4-3 on Monday, blanked Baltimore 5-0 on Tuesday and closed the four-game series with a 3-2 victory on Wednesday at Camden Yards, moving to 74-60 and holding second place in the AL East.

Rookie and homegrown players were central to the wins. Jarren Duran’s three-run homer in the fifth erased a deficit on Monday, and Roman Anthony supplied a leadoff shot earlier in the game. Lucas Giolito delivered Boston’s best performance on Tuesday, throwing eight innings of four-hit shutout ball while Trevor Story and David Hamilton supplied solo homers for the only offense needed. On Wednesday Ceddanne Rafaela, who misplayed a ball in the seventh that briefly gave Baltimore the lead, redeemed himself with a two-run blast in the ninth to win it for Boston. After the game Duran took responsibility, saying, "I’m an idiot," while Rafaela called his game-winner "something I kind of felt coming."