Aroldis Chapman earns his 400th save in Red Sox’s win
Red Sox Sweep Orioles, Aroldis Chapman Reaches 400th Save
In a 3‑to‑1 victory in Baltimore, the Boston Red Sox completed a four‑game sweep of the struggling Orioles while Aroldis Chapman notched his 400th career save—joining an exclusive club of MLB pitchers with 400 or more saves.
The game, played Sunday night, was a showcase of the Red Sox’s offensive resilience and bullpen dominance. Boston’s offense got off to a slow start, but a three‑run homer by Eli White in the second inning provided the spark the team needed. White followed a ground‑ball error by Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson with a blast that cleared the left‑field wall for an immediate lead.
Boston’s offense was anchored by a 12‑strikeout performance from left‑hander Payton Tolle, who pitched six innings of one‑run ball. Tolle’s line included 12 strikeouts, no walks, and four hits allowed, and he was credited with the win. The Red Sox’s pitching staff as a whole allowed just one hit and an unearned run, keeping the Orioles from scoring.
The Orioles began the game with a 1‑0 lead in the first inning, driven by successive two‑out doubles from Coby Mayo and Christian Encarnacion‑Strand. However, Boston’s offense answered quickly. After a single by the Orioles in the ninth, Chapman walked one, then struck out Mayo and Encarnacion‑Strand to close out the game and secure the milestone save.
Chapman, 38, made his first save in 2011 with Cincinnati and has recorded 10 seasons with 30 or more saves, including 33 this year. His 400th save places him ninth in MLB history for career saves.
Boston’s sweep of Baltimore is the Red Sox’s fourth win in a row and the first time the team has reached .500 for the season, improving to a league‑best 33‑17 since the All‑Star break. The result tightened the Red Sox’s hold on the second American League wild‑card spot.
The Orioles, on the other hand, have fallen into a six‑game losing streak, the longest stretch of losses since an eight‑game slide last May that saw manager Brandon Hyde fired. The streak has pushed the Orioles further behind in the race for the final wild‑card berth.
The Red Sox roster also saw a change when center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela was placed on the 10‑day injured list with a strained right quadriceps. The move was retroactive to September 3. Rafaela, who has been a regular in Boston’s lineup with a .282 batting average, 32 doubles, 16 homers, 70 RBI and 67 runs in 135 games, was replaced by infielder/outfielder Nate Eaton, who was recalled from Triple‑A Worcester. Eaton has appeared in 14 games for Boston this season.
In unrelated news, the Red Sox organization mourned the passing of Joe Morgan, who died Saturday night at the age of 95. Morgan, a former Red Sox manager, scout, and coach, spent 18 years in the organization. He managed the Triple‑A Pawtucket Red Sox from 1983 to 1988 before being promoted to the majors, where he led the club to an American League East title in 1988 and a second division title in 1990. His tenure as a manager was marked by a 301‑262 record over four seasons. No cause of death was disclosed.
