For Red Sox, baseball suddenly is 'fun' as White Sox feel the opposite

With separate five-game winning streaks in the past two weeks, the Boston Red Sox continue to roll.

On Thursday afternoon, they'll aim to keep a perfect road trip going and secure a sweep of the slumping Chicago White Sox.

Boston is 5-0 to start a nine-game trip entering the All-Star break and has won 10 of its past 12 games overall. The Red Sox beat Chicago 5-0 Wednesday night to earn a series victory against the White Sox, who have lost five of their past seven contests.

"Man, we're having fun," Boston third baseman Caleb Durbin said. "It definitely feels different in the clubhouse, different in the dugout. I mean, we're clicking. So, it's a lot of fun when you're stringing some wins together and obviously feels the best it's felt yet."

Chicago suddenly is feeling opposite vibes. The White Sox still lead the Cleveland Guardians by one game atop the American League Central despite their slump, but a potent lineup has gone cold to begin a six-game homestand.

Red Sox rookie left-handers Payton Tolle and Jake Bennett have combined to limit Chicago to eight hits in the series. The White Sox, fourth in the majors in home runs, have not scored in the past 11 innings.

"A couple tough arms, you know," White Sox manager Will Venable said. "These big lefties have really good fastballs and a lot of extension; these fastballs get on you a lot. We've just been seeing a lot of foul balls. ... Just got to continue to compete."

White Sox shortstop Luisangel Acuna collected two of the team's four hits in Wednesday's shutout loss. Colson Montgomery struck out three times and is 0-for-8 in the series.

Meanwhile, three Red Sox delivered two-hit games Wednesday. Tsung-Che Cheng had a pair of RBI singles while Ceddanne Rafaela and Durbin also had two hits.

Left-hander Anthony Kay (6-3, 4.29 ERA) will aim to help the White Sox salvage a game in the series while trying for his first victory since June 12.

Kay has worked four innings or less in three of his past four starts. That includes last Thursday's no-decision at Cleveland, when he spaced one run and one hit in four innings with two walks and two strikeouts before storms forced a lengthy rain delay that kept him from returning. Chicago lost 6-5.

Kay is 1-0 with a 5.63 ERA in five relief appearances vs. Boston, scattering 10 strikeouts and 10 hits in eight innings.

Boston left-hander Patrick Sandoval will oppose Kay in his first major league appearance since June 21, 2024, following a recovery from Tommy John surgery and other injuries. The Red Sox activated Sandoval from the 60-day injured list on Monday.

"This whole process has been mentally draining and challenging, obviously," Sandoval said. "The physical stuff, the setbacks and the pain, or whatever, but it took a toll mentally, for sure, and it just taught me a lot."

Sandoval is 0-3 with a 7.63 ERA in three career starts against the White Sox covering 15 1/3 innings.

Red Sox infielders Willson Contreras (left foot contusion) and Anthony Seigler (right trapezius contusion) left Wednesday's game in the third inning due to injuries.

Boston interim manager Chad Tracy said after the game that Contreras could put weight on his foot and Seigler was experiencing soreness. Contreras told reporters he believes his injury is day-to-day.

--Field Level Media

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This story was originally published July 9, 2026 at 8:07 AM.