BOSTON -- The Red Sox bid adieu to Fenway Park for the regular season two days earlier than expected, but they went out in style, sweeping the Cubs in a split doubleheader, capped by a 2-0 victory in the Game 2 nightcap.
In a unique twist, this three-game series will conclude on Sunday at a neutral site (Tropicana Field in St. Petersburg) due to a nor’easter expected to pound the Boston area this weekend.\n\nAs the Sox got ready to head south, they did so in hopes Fenway Park will host playoff games for the first time since 2021.\n\nTo accomplish that mission, the Red Sox will have to win their best-of-three-game Wild Card Series against the Yankees on the road next week.\n\n“I think the fans deserve it,” said
The first possible game at Fenway in this postseason would be Game 3 of a potential Division Series against the Rays Oct. 7.\n\nBefore that can happen, there is the impromptu weekend visit to Tropicana Field, followed by the madness at Yankee Stadium and then what the Sox hope will be a third straight weekend in St. Petersburg.\n\n“That's why we packed for 11 days,” said Red Sox manager Chad Tracy. “That’s the hope is that you take care of obviously this weekend, and then go take care of the Wild Card Series. That's the goal, and you're hoping to find your way back here.”\n\nIt was Abreu who broke the scoreless tie with a two-out, two-run double in the bottom of the eighth.\n\nThe significance of the hit, in the big picture, is that it restored Abreu’s confidence. One of Boston’s best all-around players, Abreu has carried the offense at times. But in his last 19 games dating back to Sept. 3, he has a batting line of .171/.256/.271 with one homer and six RBIs.\n\n“A lot,” said Abreu, when asked what his American League-leading 38th double meant to him. “I've been struggling these past two or three weeks, so it feels good to have the swing that won the game. It feels good to have that confidence back.”
It was veteran pitcher Sonny Gray who helped him restore it. Making a rare start at DH, Abreu chatted with Gray after his third fruitless at-bat of the game and it paid immediate dividends.\n\n“It helped me a lot. He’s a vet,” said Abreu. “He’s got a lot of years in the league to handle those situations. He gave me good advice to feel good with my body, with my athleticism. Trust myself and all that stuff. I tried to get my confidence back, and that was huge because I was able to come through in that situation, put a good swing, drive the ball and drive in those runs.”\n\n
Another pitcher worth cheering for was righty