Red Sox Beat Rays, Advance to ALCS

Enrique Hernandez with Boston in 2021
Enrique Hernandez with Boston in 2021. Photo by Canadian Press/Shutterstock (12252978ag)

After a heartbreaking Game 1 opening 5-0 loss to the Tampa Bay Rays, things didn’t look promising for the Boston Red Sox. Sure, it was only one game, but such a defeat could’ve broken the spirit of many other teams. But not this Red Sox team. A week later, on the heels of three straight victories, they’re now advancing to the ALCS.

In Game 2, Boston showed Tampa why they’re the team to beat with an astonishing 14-6 victory. In Game 3, Boston took the lead in the series with another 6-4 win. But it was in Game 4 that the emotions were running high, after Kike Hernandez gave Boston their second straight walk-off win to vanquish the Tampa Bay Rays for good, ending the series 3-1.

Boston is now set to face the Houston Astros in the ALCS, and will certainly have their hands full with that. If they manage to get past Houston, they’ll be given the task of facing either the Los Angeles Dodgers, San Francisco Giants, or Atlanta Braves, depending on which of them makes it.

Needless to say, Boston’s road to the crown still may have plenty of bumps, but if this opening series is any indication, we think they’ll have the tools to handle it.

Eitan is a songwriter, Lakers fan, and second-place winner at a Harry Potter trivia night. He enjoys writing about travel, sports, food, and geek culture.