Boston fails to post 2nd win streak of 10-plus in a season for 1st time, falls to A's 7-3

BOSTON (AP) — The way the things have gone for the Boston Red Sox since early July, it wouldn’t have been surprising if they pulled off another comeback.

Instead, they loaded the bases against Athletics reliever Hogan Harris after scoring a run, but Ian White lined out solidly to center field to end their bid for a second win streak of at least 10 games in the same season for the first in team history with a 7-3 loss on Saturday afternoon at Fenway Park.

“That we might actually win the game the way it’s gone,” interim manager Chad Tracy said, when asked what he was thinking with the potential tying run at the plate.

“It was a great effort to get the tying run to plate and give ourselves a shot, which was awesome,” Tracy said of the rally that started with two outs and a runner on second.

It was just Boston’s fourth loss in its last 31 games. On Friday, the Red Sox became just the seventh team since 1920 to win 27 or more in a 30-game span, and the only team to begin their run under .500.

On June 24, the Red Sox were 14 games under .500. Now, they’re 64-52.

Just over two weeks ago, the Red Sox had a franchise record-tying 15-game win streak ended. It matched th mark set by the 1946 club that was led by future Hall of Famer Ted Williams.

The most recent streak started July 29, after a loss in West Sacramento, California, against the Athletics, sending them on a nine-game skid.

“I think that’s our identity. I think that’s who we are as a team,” Boston DH Jahmai Jones said. “We’ve seen comebacks for us, we’ve seen a lot of late inning rallies.

“Unfortunately, it was hit on the screws right at somebody,” he said of the final out.

Entering Saturday, 12 of Boston’s last 19 wins came in a comeback, including Thursday when the Red Sox became the first team in modern MLB history to score in the final five innings from the ninth inning on in the same game in a 12-11 victory over the White Sox.

“We had that hope, that big hope,” infielder Andruw Monasterio said.

Boston has won its last nine series. The Red sox won a franchise-record 11 consecutive series in 1912, the year that Fenway Park opened.

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Boston Red Sox shortstop Andruw Monasterio loses his helmet as he strikes out in the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Boston Red Sox centerfielder Ceddanne Rafaela raects after striking out in the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026 in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Boston Red Sox's Jarren Duran snaps his bat after striking out to end the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Athletics, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

ARLINGTON, Texas (AP) — Jacob deGrom told the Texas Rangers before the trade deadline that he believed in the team and wanted to stay.

The two-time Cy Young Award winner and the Rangers have both since gotten back on a winning track.

In his first start since the Aug. 3 deadline, deGrom struck out nine in five innings Saturday night for his first win since June 30. The Rangers beat Baltimore 5-1 for their fourth win in a row since a season-worst six-game losing streak that knocked them out of first place in the AL West.

“Probably a little bit emotional for him today,” said Corey Seager, the two-time World Series MVP shortstop who hit a three-run homer. “Just to kind of go out there and prove why he wanted to be here and why he's been here, and why he's been the best and why we want him to be here ... it was fun to watch.”

The 38-year-old deGrom (8-7, 3.87 ERA) has a full no-trade clause in his contract. At least one playoff-contending team checked in about his availability before Monday's deadline.

After striking out the game's first two batters, deGrom allowed a solo homer to Jackson Holliday. The right-hander went on to strike out half of the 18 batters he faced and walked one while throwing 88 pitches. He now has 1,995 career strikeouts.

“My goodness, he was on,” manager Skip Schumaker said. “Punchout after punchout, weak contact, just an unbelievable start. ... Really good stuff. Just kind of vintage deGrom that we're used to seeing.”

After Houston's 3-2 loss to San Diego on Saturday night, the Rangers were back within a half-game of the division lead.

DeGrom still hasn't gone more than five innings in his last five starts. In his previous four starts, deGrom went 0-2 and allowed 13 earned runs in 18 innings. That included giving up five runs and five walks in 3 1/3 innings last weekend when Texas was swept in Houston before the trade deadline.

He has been dealing with some hip discomfort, which is why Schumaker said he didn't pitch into the sixth inning against the Orioles. The manager said it wasn't anything major.

“We’re going to be able to manage it and keep going,” deGrom said.

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Texas Rangers starter Jacob deGrom follows through on a pitch during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Texas Rangers starting pitcher Jacob deGrom reaches for a toss back during the third inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Saturday, Aug. 8, 2026, in Arlington, Texas. (AP Photo/LM Otero) CORRECTION: Corrects to deGrom not Degrom