Criswell steps up in finale to help Sox secure winning road trip

HOUSTON -- As things stand, the Red Sox remain on the outside looking in when it comes to the 2024 American League postseason field.

But after Wednesday’s 4-1 victory over the Astros secured a winning seven-game road trip against two first-place teams in Baltimore and Houston, the Red Sox (67-59) said they believe they’re capable of making a deep run.

“We believe in this team and the guys inside this clubhouse,” said starter Cooper Criswell, who pitched 4 2/3 innings of one-run ball. “We believe we can get to where we want to go, which is to get to the playoffs and ultimately to win a World Series, hopefully. We've believed that from Day 1, and two good series like this … puts those goals to where they aren't that far out of reach, at all.”

“As a team, it says a lot,” said shortstop Ceddanne Rafaela, who had a pair of RBI doubles to help secure the 4-3 road trip. “We can compete with the best teams in the game. To me, we are one.”

With Wednesday’s win, the Sox closed to within 3.5 games of Minnesota (71-56) and Kansas City (71-56) for the final AL Wild Card spot.

“We had a great road trip,” said manager Alex Cora. “It’ll be a happy flight. Against the Astros, we only had one bad game out of six [this month], and it was when Pax [James Paxton] got hurt. We have a good team. We know we do. But the cool thing about it is that they don't get caught up in it. They're humble, they're hungry.”

Monday’s series-opening loss, in which a beleaguered Boston bullpen gave up two late runs to turn a 4-3 lead with two outs in the eighth inning into a loss, was as painful as it gets. But that same bullpen, which entered Wednesday with the Majors’ highest ERA in August, turned it around with 8 1/3 combined innings of scoreless relief -- using seven relievers, and all in competitive game situations -- over the next two games.

Wednesday’s standout was lefty Brennan Bernardino, who struck out Astros slugger Yordan Alvarez on just three pitches with the bases loaded and two outs in the seventh.

“With bullpens, you can struggle for a week and then you can have 15 good outings,” Cora said. “That’s what we’re trying to accomplish here.”

Boston’s pitching staff was aided by strong infield defense throughout the series, particularly from Rafaela at shortstop.

“We played good defense,” Cora said. “We're going to go as far as the defense dictates. If we can slow it down and play better defensively, we'll be OK.”

Another key variable was playing with a lead, which Boston did for much of the series. On Wednesday, the Sox had Criswell to thank for that. After giving up a leadoff home run to Alex Bregman, the 28-year-old right-hander settled in and allowed only three more hits and one walk, while recording the game’s first 14 outs.

Having started only two Major League games before 2024, Criswell has allowed three earned runs or fewer in 12 of his 14 starts. One of his only recent subpar outings came on Friday in Baltimore, when Criswell gave up six runs on nine hits and four walks in just 3 1/3 innings. However, he adjusted his strategy for Wednesday’s start.

“I think I made them respect my sinker a little more,” Criswell said. “I think the difference was throwing that more, and the location. I feel like the last outing, they were sitting on my offspeed stuff, and especially the sweeper.”

After Bregman briefly tied the game in the first, Rafaela immediately gave Criswell and the Sox the lead back by smashing an RBI double off the wall in the second. Veteran Astros ace Justin Verlander -- who made his first start since suffering a neck injury after a June 9 start -- didn’t allow any more runs over his five innings, but enough damage was already done on a strong pitching day for the Sox.

“Coming into today, I didn’t really feel good [at the plate],” said Rafaela, noting that he wants to be “on top of the ball” more. “So I went early into the cage. Knowing Verlander was going to start, I had to be ready. To come through in those moments, for me and the team, is huge.”

The Sox now return to Fenway Park to face Arizona, with Friday’s game starting a seven-game homestand. In the meantime, Thursday’s off-day allows them an opportunity “to rest and recharge” after an encouraging road trip.

“Happy flight,” Cora said upon leaving Houston.