Hope in Beantown

[OmahaBaseball]

Red Sox Ride Houck, Duran to 5–2 Win Over White Sox

Boston, MA — The Boston Red Sox capitalized on strong pitching from Tanner Houck and timely power hitting from Jarren Duran to defeat the Chicago White Sox, 5–2, on a rainy Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Houck (16–8) went seven solid innings, limiting Chicago to two runs on three hits while striking out seven; Game Score 69. He allowed a two-run homer to Andrew Vaughn in the fourth inning but otherwise kept the White Sox offense quiet. Ryne Stanek (H 4) pitched a scoreless 8th-inning, while Liam Hendriks earned his 34th save of the season, striking out the side in the ninth.

Boston jumped ahead early when Rafael Devers tripled home a run and Duran followed with a two-run shot—his 23rd homer of the year—to make it 3–0 in the third. Vaughn’s fourth-inning blast briefly cut the deficit to one, but Vaughn Grissom restored Boston’s cushion with a solo homer in the seventh, and Tommy Edman added a two-out RBI single.

Garrett Crochet (14–12) took the loss for Chicago, surrendering five earned runs and nine hits over 6⅔ innings while fanning nine; Game Score 43. Vaughn collected two of the White Sox’s three hits.

The Red Sox (79–63) improved their postseason chances with the win, while the struggling White Sox fell to 55–88. Rain fell intermittently throughout the three-hour contest, which drew 33,022 fans.

Player of the Game: Tanner Houck (Season: #12)

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 3 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Late Rally Lifts White Sox Over Red Sox, 5–3

Boston, MA — Behind a standout performance from rookie left-hander Noah Schultz and a clutch double from Edgar Quero, the Chicago White Sox rallied late to defeat the Boston Red Sox, 5–3, on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Schultz, rated the 12th-best prospect in baseball by BNN, showed poise beyond his years, tossing eight innings of five-hit, three-run ball while striking out eight to earn his fourth win against two losses on the season; Game Score 65. Prelander Berroa closed out the game for his 31st save, allowing two hits but no runs in the ninth.

Boston took a 3–2 lead in the fifth inning, helped by RBI hits from Vaughn Grissom and Rafael Devers, but Chicago stormed back in the eighth. With the bases loaded, Quero ripped a two-run double to left-center, putting the White Sox on top, 4–3. Yoán Moncada added insurance with a two-out RBI single.

Eloy Jiménez powered the offense with four hits, including two doubles, while Adam Haseley and Luis Robert Jr. each contributed a hit and run scored. Chicago finished with 10 hits and made the most of its late chances after stranding runners early.

Boston starter Logan Gilbert (9-13) struck out 11 over 7⅓ innings, but was tagged with the loss after giving up four earned runs on eight hits; Game Score 56. Reliever Nick Pivetta (BS 1) was charged with a blown save after surrendering the go-ahead runs, including permitting two of the inherited runners to score.

With the win, Chicago improved to 56–88 on what has otherwise been a difficult season, while Boston fell to 79–64 as they continue to chase an American League Wild Card spot.

Player of the Game: Noah Schultz

AL East Standings: 2nd Place, 4 Games Behind

[OmahaBaseball]

Angels Playoff Hopes Dashed

The Los Angeles Angels reached the "tragic" number today and with that, their playoff hopes were laid to rest. Perhaps next year will prove better for the Angels.

[OmahaBaseball]

Tucker is Terrific - Named AL's Best

Houston Astros outfielder Kyle Tucker put together an outstanding week, as he posted a slashline of .478/.571/.957 in which he smacked 3 Doubles, 1 Triple, 2 Homeruns, 5 Runs, 7 RBI, 5 Walks, and 2 Stolen Bases. On the week, Tucker generated 0.8 WAR.

[OmahaBaseball]

Harris Nabs NL Award

For the second time of the season, Atlanta Braves superstar Michael Harris II was named the National League Player of the Week. In picking up the honor, Harris had 5 Doubles, 1 Homerun, 8 Runs, 8 RBI, and 1 Walk for a slashline of .448/.467/.724 that created 0.5 WAR.

[OmahaBaseball]

Power Rankings -- Week 24

The Power Rankings list might have a new leader but one that is no stranger to the top spot, as the Philadelphia Phillies (114.7 points) are once again top dog! The Atlanta Braves (108.9 points) and New York Yankees (107.4 points) are next in line. The Boston Red Sox (98.4 points) fell several spots and now occupy the 9th spot. The Seattle Mainers (67.6 points) have hold of last place.

Previous week's rankings: https://forums.ootpdevelopments.com/...&postcount=433

[OmahaBaseball]

Glove Wizards Shine Across Carolina League

In a league where offense often grabs the headlines, the Carolina League took time to honor the defenders—the players who turn hits into outs and make the spectacular look routine. The annual Glove Wizard Awards recognize the top defensive players at each position, and this year’s winners earned their reputation the hard way: with quick reflexes, sure hands, and flawless fundamentals.

Pitcher: Seth Keener (Kannapolis Cannon Ballers / Chicago White Sox)
Keener proved that defense doesn’t stop when the ball leaves the pitcher’s hand. The Cannon Ballers right-hander displayed cat-like instincts on comebackers, finishing the year without a single fielding error on 20 total chances in 133 innings played.

Catcher: Jesus Chirinos (Carolina Mudcats / Milwaukee Brewers)
Chirinos anchored the Mudcats’ defense with a commanding presence behind the plate. His strong arm deterred would-be base stealers, and his soft hands turned borderline pitches into strikes. Chirinos committed just 2 errors in 1189 total chances, while throwing out 10 runners and allowing only 7 passed balls.

First Base: Xavier Casserilla (Fayetteville Woodpeckers / Houston Astros)
Casserilla’s sure glove and nimble footwork saved countless infielders from throwing errors. He turned the first base bag into a fortress, scooping up low throws and flashing soft hands on tough hops. On the season, he committed just 1 error on 657 total chances (.998%) and helped turn 64 double plays.

Second Base: Moises Paiva (Fredericksburg Nationals / Washington Nationals)
Paiva was the steady heartbeat of the Nationals’ infield, combining quick turns on double plays with smooth range to both sides. His reliability up the middle kept Fredericksburg in tight games all summer.

Third Base: Chris Seise (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
Seise brought the hot corner to life with lightning reflexes and a strong arm. Whether charging slow rollers or diving to his left, he made tough plays look effortless.

Shortstop: Luis Ravelo (Salem Red Sox / Boston Red Sox)
Ravelo’s highlight-reel range and precise throws made him the anchor of Salem’s defense. His ability to handle both routine grounders and deep-in-the-hole rockets set him apart as the league’s top shortstop.

Left Field: Alejandro Pie (Charleston RiverDogs / Tampa Bay Rays)
Pie covered ground like few others in left, showing excellent reads off the bat and the arm strength to gun down runners at second and home.

Center Field: Tavian Josenberger (Delmarva Shorebirds / Baltimore Orioles)
A true field general, Josenberger’s speed and instincts turned would-be extra-base hits into easy outs. His closing speed in the gaps made pitchers breathe easier.

Right Field: Henry Ramos (Columbia Fireflies / Kansas City Royals)
Ramos combined hustle, strong routes, and a cannon arm to lock down right field. Opposing base runners thought twice before challenging him.

From infield artists to outfield acrobats, these nine players embodied what the Glove Wizard Award is all about: turning defense into a difference-maker.