The Boston Red Sox got a big 9-1 win over the Cleveland Guardians on Saturday afternoon, and Boston got its big swings from an unlikely group, as it was the bottom of the Red Sox lineup that provided the spark. 

As noted by The Ringer's Brian Barrett, the Red Sox offense entered Saturday afternoon's win as one of the worst teams in baseball in the opening frame, ranking 29th in baseball in runs scored, batting average, and slugging percentage. And it was once again a frustrating start for the Boston lineup. After left fielder Jarren Duran struck out against Cleveland starter Parker Messick, center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela worked a walk, followed by a double off the bat of right fielder Wilyer Abreu, immediately putting Boston in prime scoring position with only one out. Messick quickly escaped the jam, striking out first baseman Willson Contreras before getting Nick Sogard to pop out to end the threat.

With Cleveland leading 1-0 in the third, the Boston offense once again threatened to put up a crooked number against Cleveland's rookie left-hander, as Duran ripped a one-out single followed by a Rafaela double. Messick made quick work of Abreu on a five-pitch strikeout before Cleveland manager Stephen Vogt opted to intentionally walk Contreras to load the bases for Sogard, who was once again unable to get the job done, grounding out to third on a middle-middle fastball.

The Red Sox bats were finally able to come alive thanks to the bottom of the order in the top of the fourth inning as designated hitter Andruw Monasterio led off the inning with a double. Shortstop Isiah Kiner-Falefa legged out an infield single, putting men on first and second with nobody out. With the bunt on, catcher Connor Wong was able to successfully move the runners over for third baseman Caleb Durbin, who was able to tie the game at one with a sacrifice fly to score Monasterio. 

The score remained tied at one until the sixth inning with right-hander Matt Festa taking over for Messick. Red Sox' Interim manager Chad Tracy made his first move of the evening, pinch-hitting Marcelo Mayer for Sogard, who worked a five-pitch walk. Festa retired the next two batters he faced, Monasterio and Kiner-Falefa, setting up Wong for his biggest swing of the season. The 30-year-old catcher took a center-cut sweeper and sent it 380 feet to left for what appeared to be his first home run since the 2024 season. After a lengthy review, umpires determined that the ball did not clear the yellow line atop the 19-foot wall in left, instead awarding Mayer home, and placing Wong at second base, giving the Red Sox a 2-1 lead. 

It was once again Boston's bottom three who provided a much-needed insurance run in the eighth, as Durbin ripped an RBI double to score Kiner-Falefa, who kicked off the inning with an RBI single to extend the lead to two at 3-1. The Red Sox offense then broke things open in a big way in the ninth inning, scoring six runs off Cleveland reliever Will Dion en route to the 9-1 victory. 

It was a welcome sign for the bottom of the order to get things rolling for the Boston offense. Too often over the first 56 games of the season, the top of the Red Sox lineup would get the team in a prime scoring position before the opportunities were squandered. Entering Saturday's win, Sogard, Monasterio, Kiner-Falefa, Wong, and Durbin were hitting just .228 on the season before going 7-for-21, scoring and driving in six runs each in the win.

The Red Sox will look to take the series at Progressive Field on Sunday afternoon as Ranger Suarez (2-3, 3.02 ERA) takes the mound opposite Tanner Bibee (0-7, 4.57 ERA) for Cleveland. First pitch set for 1:40 p.m. ET. 

The Red Sox are 24-33.

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