Wilyer Abreu homers twice as the Red Sox beat the Cubs 6-1 to avoid a
sweep
[July 21, 2025]
By JAY COHEN
CHICAGO (AP) — Wilyer Abreu homered twice and drove in
three runs, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago Cubs 6-1 on Sunday
to avoid a series sweep.
Alex Bregman also connected as Boston rallied after managing just one
run in its first two games after the All-Star break. Garrett Crochet
(11-4) pitched six effective innings in his fourth consecutive win. |
Boston Red Sox's Wilyer Abreu celebrates with teammates in the dugout
while wearing the green monster mask after hitting a solo home run
during the eighth inning of a baseball game against the Chicago Cubs,
Sunday, July 20, 2025, in Chicago. (AP Photo/Paul Beaty) |
|
The Red Sox went ahead to stay when Trevor
Story opened the seventh with a walk and Abreu hit a drive to
right-center off Ryan Pressly (2-3) for his 19th homer.
Bregman broke it open with a pinch-hit shot off Drew Pomeranz
for a three-run homer in the eighth. Abreu tacked on a two-out
solo drive against Ethan Roberts.
It was Abreu's fourth multihomer game of the season and No. 5
for his career. He hit a total of 17 homers in his first two
years in the majors.
Boston improved to 12-3 in July. It had won 10 in a row going
into the series.
Chicago wasted a sharp performance by Cade Horton, who pitched 5
2/3 innings of two-hit ball. The Cubs had won five of six.
Crochet allowed eight hits in his first start since July 12. The
All-Star left-hander struck out five and walked two.
Chicago scored its only run in the second. Pete Crow-Armstrong
hit a leadoff double and Dansby Swanson followed with an infield
single. After Crow-Armstrong was caught stealing third, Swanson
raced home from second on Ian Happ's single to right.
Key moment
The Cubs threatened in the fifth, loading the bases with two
down. But Crochet escaped the jam when he got Carson Kelly to
bounce into a fielder’s choice.
Key stat
The Red Sox improved to 13-14 against the Cubs since the start
of interleague play in 1997.
Up next
Red Sox: RHP Walker Buehler (6-6, 6.12 ERA) starts Monday night
in the opener of a three-game series at Philadelphia. RHP Zack
Wheeler (9-3, 2.36 ERA) goes for the Phillies.
Cubs: Stay at home for the opener of a three-game set against
Kansas City on Monday night.
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