“`html

Red Sox’s big inning: Bregman’s error sparks 5-run rally

In a game defined by razor-thin margins, one defensive lapse can unravel everything. The Houston Astros learned that the hard way Monday night as a critical error by third baseman Alex Bregman opened the floodgates for the Red Sox’s big inning, a five-run explosion in the seventh that flipped the script and secured a pivotal 6-2 victory for Boston at Fenway Park.

The game had been a tense pitcher’s duel through six innings, with both starters trading scoreless frames and keeping hitters off balance. It was the kind of tight, late-season contest where a single moment of brilliance—or a single mistake—was destined to be the difference. As the seventh inning began, knotted at 1-1, nobody could have predicted the meltdown that was about to occur, all starting from one routine ground ball.

The Inning Unravels: A Play-by-Play

Boston’s starter, Brayan Bello, had just finished a masterful six innings of one-run ball, handing the game over to the bullpen. The Astros countered, bringing in their trusted setup man, Ryan Pressly, to face the heart of the Red Sox order in the bottom of the seventh. The stage was set for a classic bullpen battle.

Jarren Duran led off the inning with a sharp single to center field, immediately putting pressure on Pressly. Up next, Wilyer Abreu worked a tough at-bat, fouling off several pitches before drawing a walk. Suddenly, the go-ahead run was in scoring position with nobody out. The Fenway faithful, sensing an opportunity, rose to their feet.

That’s when the game’s pivotal moment arrived. Rafael Devers, Boston’s star slugger, stepped into the box. On a 1-1 count, Devers slapped a hard ground ball directly at Alex Bregman at third base. It was a tailor-made double-play ball—the kind Bregman, a Gold Glove-caliber fielder, has converted thousands of times. He fielded it cleanly, turned to start the 5-4-3 double play, but the ball inexplicably slipped from his grasp. Instead of two outs and a runner on third, the bases were loaded with nobody out. The door wasn’t just open; it had been kicked off its hinges.

Capitalizing on Chaos: Anatomy of the Red Sox’s Big Inning

Good teams take advantage of their opponents’ mistakes, and the Red Sox did more than just take advantage; they feasted. The error completely changed the complexion of the inning and seemed to rattle the Astros. The Red Sox’s big inning was officially underway.

Triston Casas was the first to make Houston pay. He worked the count full before drawing a bases-loaded walk, forcing in Duran to give Boston a 2-1 lead. The walk was a testament to his plate discipline, refusing to chase pitches even with the crowd roaring for a hit. Astros manager Joe Espada made a mound visit, but the damage was just beginning.

Next up, designated hitter Masataka Yoshida lined a single into the right-field gap. Abreu scored easily from third, and Devers, running hard on contact, slid in just ahead of the tag to make it 4-1. The hit broke the game open and sent the crowd into a frenzy. Bregman’s error had now directly led to three runs.

But Boston wasn’t done. After a strikeout for the first out, Ceddanne Rafaela slapped a grounder through the right side of the infield. Casas chugged home, extending the lead to 5-1. The rally was finally capped by a sacrifice fly from Connor Wong, scoring Yoshida and bringing the total to five runs in the frame. By the time the Astros recorded the third out, a 1-1 tie had transformed into a commanding 6-1 Boston lead.

Bregman’s Burden: A Moment of Misfortune

For Alex Bregman, it was a moment he’ll want to forget. As one of the steadiest defenders in the league, such a fundamental error on a routine play was shocking. The television cameras captured him in the dugout after the inning, staring blankly at the field, the weight of the moment clearly visible.

“It’s on me,” a dejected Bregman said post-game. “I get that ball a hundred times out of a hundred. I just took my eye off it for a split second to look at the runner, and I short-armed the throw. No excuses. I let my pitcher down and I let the team down. We have to be better, and it starts with me.”

While one play never solely decides a game, the timing and context of this error made it catastrophic. It not only loaded the bases but also seemed to deflate the entire Astros team, while simultaneously injecting an unstoppable wave of momentum into the Red Sox dugout.

Post-Game Reactions: Managers on the Turning Point

After the game, the two managers had predictably different takes on the decisive inning.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised his team’s ability to stay focused and capitalize. “That’s what we talk about all the time: put the ball in play and make them make a play,” Cora explained. “Bregman is an elite defender, and that’s a play he makes 99% of the time. Tonight was that 1%. Once we had that opening, our guys had great at-bats. Triston’s walk was huge. Masa’s hit was clutch. That’s how you build a big inning.”

On the other side, Astros manager Joe Espada was quick to support his third baseman. “Look, Alex is our guy. He’s one of the best in the game,” Espada stated. “It was a tough play, and it didn’t go our way. But we had opportunities after that to limit the damage and we didn’t. You can’t put it all on one play. We win as a team and we lose as a team. We’ll flush this one and be ready to go tomorrow.”

Playoff Implications: A Massive Win for Boston

This victory is more than just a single notch in the win column for the Red Sox. It comes at a critical juncture in the season as they battle for an American League Wild Card spot. With the Yankees and Orioles also in the hunt, every head-to-head win against a fellow contender feels like it’s worth double.

The win keeps Boston firmly in the playoff picture and provides a significant morale boost. Winning a game in this fashion—coming from behind with a massive, game-changing rally—can create momentum that carries a team for days, if not weeks. For a team that has fought through injuries and inconsistency all season, this kind of signature win could be the catalyst they need for a strong final push.

As the season winds down, every game intensifies, and the pressure mounts. For an updated look at the tight playoff race, you can view the official MLB standings. For one night in Boston, the Red Sox’s big inning wasn’t just a rally; it was a statement that they are not going away quietly.

“`