page_title: 2018 Boston Red Sox season
section_title: September
hierarchical_section_title: 2018 Boston Red Sox season / Regular season / September
caption_attribution_description: Red Sox at Orioles 8/10/18
context_page_description: The 2018 Boston Red Sox season was the 118th season in the team's history, and their 107th season at Fenway Park. Under first year manager Alex Cora, the team finished with a 108–54 record, winning the American League East division title for the third consecutive season, and finished eight games ahead of the second-place New York Yankees. The Red Sox were the first MLB team to post 100 wins during the 2018 season, reaching that milestone for the first time since 1946; they were also the first team to clinch a berth in the 2018 postseason.
  The team set a new franchise record for wins in a season by surpassing the prior mark of 105 that had been set in 1912; they also won the most games by any MLB team since the 2001 Seattle Mariners won 116. Mookie Betts finished the season with the Major League batting title, hitting .346, while J. D. Martinez finished second in the majors with .330. Betts also won a Gold Glove and the Major League Baseball Most Valuable Player Award. Closer Craig Kimbrel became the fastest player in history to reach 300 career saves, finishing the season with 333.
context_section_description: September 1–September 2, at Chicago White Sox (cont.)
  In the third game of a four-game series, Eduardo Rodríguez returned from the disabled list and got the win, striking out 12 in ​5 ²⁄₃ innings, as the Red Sox won, 6–1. Eduardo Núñez, Jackie Bradley Jr., and Ian Kinsler each hit home runs. Chicago won the final game of the series, 8–0, as Boston was held to five hits, and did not have a runner advance past second base.
  Red Sox split the series 2–2 (16–19 runs)
  September 3–September 5, at Atlanta Braves
  
  The Red Sox won the series' opening game, 8–2, after holding a 3–2 lead at the end of seven innings and then scoring five unanswered runs in the final two frames. The two teams combined to use 14 pitchers; Brandon Workman got the win in relief. Ian Kinsler went 2-for-5 with three RBIs. In the second game of the series, Atlanta established an early 1–0 lead, but was held scoreless after the second inning, as Boston won, 5–1. Steve Pearce was 3-for-4 with three RBIs, and starter Rick Porcello improved his season record to 16–7. Boston completed the sweep in a come-from-behind victory in the third game of the series. Down 7–1 after seven innings, the Red Sox rallied for six runs in the top of the eighth to tie the game. After the Braves scored once in the bottom of the eighth on a solo home run by Freddie Freeman, a two-run home run by Brandon Phillips in the top of the ninth gave the Red Sox a 9–8 lead. Craig Kimbrel closed out the win in the bottom of the ninth with his 38th save of the season. Phillips, who was making his Red Sox debut, was 1-for-3 with two walks, two RBIs, and three runs scored.
  Red Sox won the series 3–0 (22–11 runs)
  September 7–September 9, vs. Houston Astros
  
  The Astros won the first game of the series, 6–3, after being held scoreless through the first six innings. Starter David Price had 10 strikeouts in ​6 ¹⁄₃ innings and was charged with two runs, although all of Houston's runs were scored with Red Sox relief pitchers on the mound. Xander Bogaerts hit his 20th home run of the season. The Astros won the second game, 5–3, after building a 5–1 lead through four innings. Eduardo Rodríguez took the loss, allowing five runs in ​3 ¹⁄₃ innings, while Bogaerts again homered. Boston won the closing game of the series, 6–5, with Mitch Moreland hitting a walk-off RBI single in the bottom of the ninth to break a 5–5 tie. The Red Sox had built a 5–1 lead through five innings, only to see the Astros plate four runs in the sixth to tie the game. J. D. Martinez hit his 40th home run of the season, while Bogaerts was 4-for-4 with a walk and an RBI. Mookie Betts went 7-for-12 during the series, raising his average to .342 for the season.
  Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (12–16 runs)
  September 11–September 13, vs. Toronto Blue Jays
  
  In the first game of the series, Toronto had a 2–0 lead through six innings, with Boston then scoring seven unanswered runs for a 7–2 final. Chris Sale returned from the disabled list, pitching the first inning as the Red Sox used seven pitchers in relief, with Ryan Brasier getting the win. Brock Holt hit a three-run pinch-hit home run, as the Red Sox became the first major league team to clinch a spot in the 2018 postseason. Boston won the second game of the series, 1–0, with the game's only run coming on a wild pitch in the fifth inning. Starter David Price went seven innings while striking out seven, walking none, and limiting the Blue Jays to three hits. With this win, the Red Sox reached 100 wins for the first time since their 1946 season. In the final game of the series, J. D. Martinez hit his 41st homer of the season to tie for the MLB lead. Toronto scored twice in the top of the eighth inning to tie the game, 3–3. Boston went ahead, 4–3, in the bottom of the inning, with Xander Bogaerts scoring from third on an infield error. Craig Kimbrel then retired the Blue Jays in order for his 40th save of the season.
  Red Sox won the series 3–0 (12–5 runs)
  September 14–September 16, vs. New York Mets
  The Red Sox were held scoreless in the first game of the series, losing 8–0 as Mets starter Noah
caption: Mookie Betts joined the 30–30 club with his 30th steal of the season, on September 26 against the Orioles.
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