Sanoja, Gusto help Marlins beat Red Sox 4-0 to avoid series sweep

MIAMI (AP) — Javier Sanoja had three hits and drove in a run, Ryan Gusto limited Boston to four hits in 5 2/3 innings and the Miami Marlins beat the Red Sox 4-0 on Wednesday night.

Gusto (1-3) walked three, struck out two and hit two batters for his first victory since July 30, 2025. Otto López singled twice and stole two bases, while Heriberto Hernández had two hits and an RBI to help the Marlins avoid a sweep in the three-game series.

Boston starter Sonny Gray, in his bid to become the first in the major leagues to 17 wins this season, gave up two runs and seven hits over five innings. Gray (16-4) walked one and struck out five.

The Red Sox had won five straight. They committed four errors.

Red Sox star catcher Audley Rutschman missed his second straight game because of right elbow irritation.

Down 2-0, the Red Sox threatened in the sixth after Andruw Monasterio was hit by a pitch with two outs and Jarren Duran singled to end Gusto’s outing. Victor Vodnik relieved Gusto and struck out Anthony Seigler, then had a perfect seventh.

Janson Junk and Dax Fulton each threw an inning to complete the shutout.

Boston’s Mickey Gasper went 0 for 3 and walked after he reached safely in his first eight plate appearances of the series.

Hernández gave Miami the lead with an RBI single in the first.

López made it 2-0 in the second, when he singled, stole second and raced home on catcher Connor Wong’s throwing error.

In the eighth, López scored from third on a fielding error by first baseman Nick Sogard on Owen Caissie’s grounder. Sanoja added an RBI single.

Red Sox LHP Patrick Sandoval (1-2, 4.54) was set to start the opener of a four-game series at the New York Yankees on Friday night. The Marlins had not announced a starter for the opener of a three-game set at Washington on Friday night.

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Boston Red Sox's Anthony Seigler runs after hitting a single during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Heriberto Hernández hits a RBI single to score Kyle Stowers during the first inning of a baseball game, against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Miami Marlins' Kyle Stowers hits a single during the of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Sonny Gray, center, talks on the mound during the second inning of a baseball game against the Miami Marlins, Wednesday, Aug. 26, 2026, in Miami. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky)

LUBBOCK, Texas (AP) — Well-traveled quarterback Tommy Castellanos plans to play this season for No. 12 Texas Tech, the Big 12 Conference favorite that is set for returner Will Hammond to be its starter after transfer Brendan Sorsby was declared ineligible because of gambling.

A Big 12 ruling later Wednesday, however, made it uncertain if Castellanos would be able to play for the defending league champion Red Raiders.

Castellanos told ESPN earlier in the day that he had committed to Texas Tech. On the quarterback's verified X account, in which the bio included the phrase professional athlete, there was a photo posted with him in a Texas Tech uniform.

The Big 12, after similar decisions by the Southeastern and Big Ten conferences, also is banning players who were on NFL rosters from returning to college. The rule unanimously adopted Wednesday by the Big 12 also makes ineligible any player that declared for the NFL draft and didn't timely withdraw before the draft.

Castellanos, who played last season at Florida State, went undrafted four months ago before a tryout as a receiver with the Miami Dolphins during their rookie minicamp. He was never on an NFL roster, but went through the draft process.

He had declared for the NFL draft last December after dropping his appeal for another year of college eligibility. The NCAA had denied his waiver request to play another season.

Last Friday, Castellanos was among 10 athletes granted a temporary restraining order by a Kentucky judge to get a fifth season of college football. The NCAA announced a rule change in June allowing players who began college in 2023 or later to have five years to play five years of sports in college.

Castellanos, whose college career began at UCF in 2022, transferred last season to Florida State following two at Boston College. His fifth game at UCF as a freshman was the American Athletic Conference championship game after the starter got hurt.

In 38 college games, Castellanos completed 477 of 816 passes (58.5%) for 6,449 yards with 48 touchdowns and 28 interceptions. He was 180-of-309 (58.3%) for 2,760 yards, 15 TDs and nine interceptions last year in his 12 games for the Seminoles.

Hammond played in eight games for Big 12 champion Texas Tech behind graduated Behren Morton last season before an ACL injury on Oct. 25. After no setbacks in his recovery, Hammond has been part of fall camp. The Red Raiders open the season at home Sept. 5 against FCS team Abilene Christian.

Sorsby transferred to Tech in January after two seasons at Cincinnati, and was expected to start instead before an NCAA gambling investigation and since-dropped lawsuit over his eligibility.

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FILE - Florida State quarterback Tommy Castellanos (1) rushes for a touchdown against Alabama during the first half of an NCAA college football game, Saturday, Aug. 30, 2025, in Tallahassee, Fla. (AP Photo/Phelan M. Ebenhack,File)