Rafaela homers for 3rd straight game as the Red Sox beat the Dodgers 8-4 for 3-game sweep

LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ceddanne Rafaela homered for the third straight game and the Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday night to sweep the three-game series.

Masataka Yoshida homered and drove in two runs, and Jake Bennett (7-4) allowed three runs in 5 2/3 innings to help the Red Sox win their fifth straight game. Boston is 23-3 since July 3.

Emmet Sheehan (4-8) was pulled after allowing five runs in 2 2/3 innings, with the Red Sox pushing across two runs in a 30-pitch first inning.

Rafaela and Wilyer Abreu then clocked Sheehan for back-to-back homers to start the third inning, followed by Yoshida’s solo shot for a 5-3 lead two batters later.

Rafaela went 7 for 14 with four homers and five RBIs in the series. He has an eight-game hitting streak with four straight multi-hit outings.

Jarren Duran picked up Boston’s fourth solo homer in the sixth inning off reliever Kyle Hurt.

The Red Sox added two more runs in the eighth inning on a wild pitch and passed ball.

Andy Pages had three RBIs, but the Dodgers couldn’t follow up any momentum created by their blockbuster trade for Detroit Tigers ace Tarik Skubal on Saturday night.

Dodgers catcher Dalton Rushing was pulled out of the lineup shortly before the game started because of right arm irritation, with Eliezer Alfonzo taking over behind the plate.

Red Sox: LHP Patrick Sandoval (0-0, 3.32 ERA) was set to start the opener of a three-game series at home against the Chicago White Sox on Tuesday night.

Dodgers: LHP Justin Wrobleski (11-2, 2.88 ERA) could get the call in the first of three games at the Chicago Cubs on Monday night.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/MLB

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Jake Bennett (64) throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Emmet Sheehan (80) throws during the second inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu (52) runs home to score on a single hit by Boston Red Sox's Caleb Durbin during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Boston Red Sox's Caleb Durbin, right, reacts after hitting an RBI single during the first inning of a baseball game against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela is greeted by teammates after scoring on a single hit by Sox's designated hitter Masataka Yoshida during the first inning of a baseball game, Sunday, Aug. 2, 2026, in Los Angeles. (AP Photo/Caroline Brehman)

CHICAGO (AP) — The Chicago Cubs bolstered their rotation on Sunday night, acquiring right-hander Kevin Gausman in a trade with the Toronto Blue Jays.

A person familiar with the deal confirmed the move to the AP on condition of anonymity because it hadn't been announced by either team.

The addition of Gausman is likely only the beginning for Chicago as it looks for pitching ahead of Monday’s trade deadline. The Cubs have weathered injuries to several key pitchers on their way to a 63-49 record and the top spot in the NL wild-card standings.

Gausman worked 5 2/3 innings of one-run ball in Toronto's 5-1 win over St. Louis on Saturday. He could make his first start for Chicago on Thursday, when the Cubs host the Blue Jays in the makeup of a June 21 rainout.

Chicago also traded Jameson Taillon and cash to Toronto on Sunday for a player to be named or cash. Taillon was designated for assignment by the Cubs last Monday.

The durable Gausman, who is eligible for free agency after this season, is 5-10 with a 4.38 ERA in 23 starts. He pitched at least 174 2/3 innings and made at least 31 starts in each of the previous five years.

Gausman helped Toronto reach the 2025 World Series, going 2-3 with a 2.93 ERA in six postseason starts. The Blue Jays lost in the Fall Classic to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a possible playoff opponent for the Cubs this year.

Toronto began this season with championship aspirations, but it dropped to 52-60 with Sunday's 5-1 loss to St. Louis. Right-hander Shane Bieber and outfielder Daulton Varsho also could be on the move ahead of the deadline.

The Blue Jays acquired minor leaguers Brett Bateman and Ty Southisene in the deal with the Cubs. Bateman was an eighth-round pick in the 2023 amateur draft, and Southisene was a fourth-round selection in 2024.

Bateman, a 24-year-old outfielder, hit .312 with three homers, 20 steals and 33 RBIs in 82 games for Triple-A Iowa this season. Southisene, a 21-year-old shortstop, hit .326 in 44 games for High-A South Bend.

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman (34) works against the St. Louis Cardinals during the first inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman (34) works against the St. Louis Cardinals during the second inning of a baseball game in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)

Toronto Blue Jays' Kevin Gausman applauds to the crowd as he is taken out by manager John Schneider during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals in Toronto, Saturday, Aug. 1, 2026. (Sammy Kogan/The Canadian Press via AP)