page_title: 2018 Boston Red Sox season
section_title: August
hierarchical_section_title: 2018 Boston Red Sox season / Regular season / August
caption_attribution_description: Red Sox outfielder Andrew Benintendi takes batting practice during Saturday's workout at Fenway Park.
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: August 2–August 5, vs. New York Yankees
  
  In the first game of the four game set, the Yankees jumped out to an early 4–0 lead, only to see Boston score the next 10 runs, including eight in the fourth inning, en route to a 15–7 final. Much of the offense came from the top third of the Red Sox order: Mookie Betts was 4-for-4 plus two walks, Andrew Benintendi was 3-for-6 with three RBIs, and Steve Pearce was 3-for-5 with six RBIs; all three of his hits were home runs. Pearce joined Kevin Millar and Mo Vaughn as the only Red Sox players to have a three-homer game against the Yankees. In the second game of the series, Rick Porcello allowed only one run and one hit in a complete game effort, improving his record to 14–4 as the Red Sox won, 4–1. Alex Cora had been ejected in the bottom of the first inning, his first ejection as Boston manager, after taking exception to warnings issued to both dugouts. Boston then scored three runs, with two coming on a Pearce homer. Ian Kinsler had to leave the game due to injury, and was later placed on the disabled list; Betts replaced him at second base for several innings, his first time playing the position since 2014. Boston won the third game of the series, 4–1, with Nathan Eovaldi allowing no runs and three hits in eight innings. Mitch Moreland and J. D. Martinez both hit home runs. The Red Sox completed the four-game sweep in a 10-inning, 5–4 win that was broadcast on Sunday Night Baseball. A Betts solo home run put Boston ahead in the fifth inning; however, New York capitalized on a Xander Bogaerts error in the seventh inning to go ahead, 4–1. With that score, Yankees closer Aroldis Chapman came on in the bottom of the ninth, but struggled, striking out two and walking three. With the bases loaded, a Martinez single cut the lead to 4–3. A Bogaerts grounder then drew an errant throw from Yankees third baseman Miguel Andújar, allowing Jackie Bradley Jr. to score the tying run. The game went to extra innings after Moreland struck out, with Matt Barnes retiring the side in order in the top of the 10th. In the bottom of the 10th, Sandy León hit a two-out single and advanced to second on a wild pitch. Betts was intentionally walked, and Tony Renda made his Red Sox debut as a pinch runner for León. Benintendi then singled to center, scoring Renda, to secure the win and complete the sweep.
  Red Sox won the series 4–0 (28–13 runs)
  August 7–August 9, at Toronto Blue Jays
  
  The first game of the series found Toronto leading, 3–1, when Boston scored four in the top of the eighth, including three on a J. D. Martinez home run, to take a 5–3 lead. Toronto then forced extra innings, with a run each in the bottom of the eighth and ninth innings. In the top of the tenth, Boston scored five runs, via homers by Mitch Moreland and Jackie Bradley Jr. Toronto could only answer with two runs, for a 10–7 final and fifth consecutive Red Sox win. In the series' second game, Boston jumped out to a 4–0 lead after three innings, ultimately winning 10–5. Rafael Devers hit a home run in his first game back from the disabled list. Boston's winning streak then ended at six games, as Toronto won the final game of the series, 8–5. Rick Porcello gave up seven runs in four innings, taking the loss. Martinez hit his 35th home run of the season, while Mookie Betts' ninth inning homer completed the cycle, the first of his career and first of the 2018 MLB season.
  Red Sox won the series 2–1 (25–20 runs)
  August 10–August 12, at Baltimore Orioles
  
  In a game with 33 total hits, the Red Sox out-slugged the Orioles, 19–12, in the first game of the series. Trailing 8–5 after five innings, Boston scored six runs in the sixth, three in the seventh, and five in the eighth. Drew Pomeranz, pitching out of the bullpen, got the win, while Brock Holt went 3-for-4 with three RBIs. Holt, Xander Bogaerts, and Andrew Benintendi each homered. J. D. Martinez had two RBIs, giving him 101 for the season. The second game of the series—the first game of a day-night doubleheader to make-up a July 25 rainout—was won by Boston, 5–0. David Price pitched six
caption: Andrew Benintendi's extra-inning RBI in the fourth game of the series completed the Red Sox' sweep of the Yankees.
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