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The Boston Red Sox extended their dominance over the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 8-4 victory Sunday night, clinching a sweep of the three-game series in Southern California. Ceddanne Rafaela delivered his third consecutive home run performance, powering Boston to victory and marking the team’s fifth straight win.
Masataka Yoshida contributed a solo homer and two runs driven in as starter Jake Bennett (7-4) limited the Dodgers to three runs across 5 2/3 innings of work. The Red Sox reached the plate five times in the opening inning alone, a 30-pitch assault that proved critical to their offensive output.
Los Angeles starter Emmet Sheehan (4-8) could not escape the second inning, departing after allowing five runs in just 2 2/3 innings. Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu launched consecutive homers to start the third inning, with Yoshida following two batters later for his own solo shot that built Boston’s lead to 5-3.
Over the three-game series, Rafaela went 7 for 14 with four home runs and five RBIs while maintaining an eight-game hitting streak that includes four consecutive multi-hit performances. Jarren Duran added Boston’s fourth solo home run in the sixth inning off Dodgers reliever Kyle Hurt.
The Red Sox are 23-3 since July 3. Two additional runs scored in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and passed ball. Andy Pages drove in three runs for Los Angeles, which could not capitalize on momentum from Saturday’s acquisition of Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal. Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was removed from the lineup before gametime due to right arm irritation, with Eliezer Alfonzo assuming his defensive position.
The Red Sox host the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night, with left-hander Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.32 ERA) slated to start the series opener. The Dodgers travel to face the Chicago Cubs on Monday, with left-hander Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.88 ERA) potentially taking the mound for the first game of that three-game set.
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