Ken Powtak, Author at The Rapid City Post

Boston Red Sox pitcher Garrett Crochet is congratulated in the dugout after the seventh inning of a baseball game against the New York Yankees, Sunday, Sept. 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Garrett Crochet comes up big to help the Red Sox salvage series finale against Yankees

September 14, 2025

The Boston Red Sox went out and picked up Garrett Crochet for game like this. Facing the rival New York Yankees in a race for the AL’s top wild-card spot, Crochet was given a big first-inning lead and matched his season high with 12 strikeouts over six innings in Boston’s 6-4 victory Sunday night that salvaged the finale of a three-game series. Crochet is 16-5 with a 2.63 ERA. The Red Sox acquired the 26-year-old left-hander in a trade with the Chicago White Sox during the offseason. Then, they didn’t wait very long to lock him up, signing him to a $170 million, six-year deal that starts next season. Boston is 1 1/2 games behind the Yankees, who hold the top wild-card slot.

Boston Red Sox's Carlos Narváez os congratulated after hitting a two-RBI single during the fifth inning of a baseball game against the Cleveland Guardians, Monday, Sept. 1, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Carlos Narváez gets 1st career pinch hit, Trevor Story hits strange homer as Red Sox beat Guardians

September 1, 2025

Carlos Narváez had his first career pinch hit, a tiebreaking single in the fifth inning, Trevor Story had a strange homer and the Boston Red Sox beat the Cleveland Guardians 6-4. Romy Gonzalez added an RBI single for the Red Sox, who won for the ninth time in 12 games to improve to an AL-best 35-18 since the beginning of July. The victory pulled the Red Sox within a percentage point of the Yankees for the AL’s top wild-card spot. Kyle Manzardo hit a solo homer for the Guardians, who have dropped 13 of 20.

Miami Marlins' Dane Myers uses a bat decorated for players' weekend as he swings at a pitch in the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Aug. 16, 2025, in Boston. (Photo/Steven Senne)

Marlins’ Dane Myers gets heckled by fan at Fenway Park. He hits tying homer and fan ejected

August 17, 2025

Marlins right fielder Dane Myers felt like a fan at Fenway Park was heckling him beyond what was appropriate. The verbal abuse before he hit a tying homer in the ninth inning to help Miami rally past the Boston Red Sox on Sunday. Myers said the heckling began in the eighth when the Red Sox led 3-2 and continued in the ninth, after he homered and rookie Jakob Marsee followed with a two-run shot to put the Marlins on top. Myers said he yelled back at the fan in the ninth before security workers intervened and removed the heckler.

Miami Marlins' Jakob Marsee reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the ninth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Sunday, Aug. 17, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Jim Davis)

Myers and Marsee homer in 3-run 9th to lift the Marlins past the Red Sox, 5-3

August 17, 2025

Dane Myers and Jakob Marsee homered in Miami’s three-run ninth inning and the Marlins beat the Boston Red Sox 5-3 on Sunday to end a three-game losing streak. Myers hit the second pitch from Greg Weissert (4-4) into Boston’s bullpen to tie it, and Marsee sent a pitch from Steven Matz into the seats in right. Tyler Phillips (2-1) worked a scoreless inning, and Anthony Bender got the final three outs for his fourth save. Eric Wagaman also homered for the Marlins. Boston’s Wilyer Abreu had a two-run homer that popped out of the glove of right fielder Myers when he crashed into the fence.

FILE - Boston Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck walks to the dugout after being pulled against the Detroit Tigers in the third inning during a baseball game, May 12, 2025, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya, File)

Red Sox pitcher Tanner Houck to undergo Tommy John surgery

August 3, 2025

Boston Red Sox right-hander Tanner Houck’s attempt to come back this season is over. Manager Alex Cora said Saturday that Houck will undergo Tommy John surgery. An All-Star last season, the 29-year-old Houck went on the injured list in mid-May with a right flexor strain after going 0-3 with an 8.04 ERA in nine starts. He’s the third Boston starting pitcher to suffer a season-ending injury. Hunter Dobbins tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee covering first base last month and Kutter Crawford underwent right wrist surgery.

Home plate umpire Gerry Davis, left, and Houston Astros first baseman Christian Walker (8) restrain Astros pitcher Hector Neris, center, at the end of the seventh inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, Aug. 2, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

Astros reliever Neris intentionally balks to advance runner from second, then shouts at Red Sox

August 2, 2025

Houston Astros reliever Héctor Neris used a balk to advance a runner to third, then had an exchange with Red Sox third base coach Kyle Hudson that led to a dustup between the teams. Neris surrendered Trevor Story’s two-out RBI double in the seventh inning of Houston’s 7-3 loss. The right-hander then balked, moving Story to third, before Carlos Narváez bounced to shortstop for the final out. As Neris made his way off the mound, he had words with Hudson and yelled toward the Red Sox dugout, causing both teams, including bullpens, to come on the field before order was quickly restored.

Los Angeles Dodgers pitcher Shohei Ohtani throws against the Minnesota Twins during the third inning of a baseball game in Los Angeles, Monday, July 21, 2025. (AP Photo/Jayne Kamin-Oncea)

Dodgers 2-way star Shohei Ohtani to start on mound Wednesday. Team goes to 6-man rotation

July 27, 2025

Los Angeles Dodgers two-way star Shohei Ohtani is expected to start on the mound Wednesday as he continues his buildup from elbow surgery that kept him from pitching all last season. Manager Dave Roberts said Sunday before the series finale in Boston that the plan is for Ohtani to work four innings at Cincinnati, with an off day to recover before hitting in a game. With Ohtani working his way back along with left-hander Blake Snell, who pitched 4 2/3 innings Saturday in his fourth rehab start for Triple-A Oklahoma City, the Dodgers will be using a six-man rotation.

Boston Red Sox's Ceddanne Rafaela celebrates with Marcelo Mayer (39) after hitting a two run homer in the sixth inning of a baseball game, Sunday, July 13, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

A mix of youth and chemistry has Red Sox rolling into All-Star break on 10-game winning streak

July 14, 2025

Many of the Boston Red Sox players started wearing T-shirts during batting practice and in the clubhouse the past week with a quote from teammate Romy Gonzalez written across the front. It says: “Tremendously locked in.” They certainly look that way heading into the All-Star break.

Boston Red Sox pitcher Hunter Dobbins (73) walks off the mound next to manager Alex Cora (13) after an injury during the second inning of a baseball game against the Tampa Bay Rays, Friday, July 11, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

Red Sox RHP Hunter Dobbins says he’s done for season after tearing right ACL

July 12, 2025

Red Sox right-hander Hunter Dobbins has announced his season is over after he tore the anterior cruciate ligament in his right knee. Covering first base in the second inning of Boston’s 5-4 walk-off win over the Tampa Bay Rays on Friday night, the 25-year-old Dobbins stepped awkwardly and limped after recording an out by making a catch on a throw from first baseman Abraham Toro. Dobbins took one warmup toss before manager Alex Cora stopped him from attempting any more. Dobbins said he tore the same ACL playing high school football.

New York Yankees outfielder Aaron Judge reacts after he struck out swinging in the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Saturday, June 14, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Steven Senne)

Red Sox manager Alex Cora and Yankees slugger Aaron Judge create happy moment for Cora’s twin boys

June 15, 2025

Red Sox manager Alex Cora wanted his twin 7-year-old sons to meet the Yankees’ Aaron Judge, the biggest star of his team’s AL East foe. Xander and Isander Cora objected, not wanting to cross paths with a rival. Cora persisted, and Xander and Isander Cora got to meet the 6-foot-7 All-Star before Boston’s 4-3 win on Saturday night. The brothers wore Boston’s new alternate jerseys in Fenway green. Cora took a photo of the boys with Judge, who gave one of them a set of batting gloves.

Boston Red Sox third baseman Marcelo Mayer smiles after getting his first out of his career after fielding a ground ball by Baltimore Orioles Ramon Urias in the second inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Saturday, May 24, 2025, at Fenway Park in Boston. (AP Photo/Mary Schwalm)

Red Sox prospect Marcelo Mayer gets a ride to Fenway Park for his big league debut

May 24, 2025

Marcelo Mayer, Boston’s No. 2 overall prospect, was promoted to the Red Sox and needed to get a ride to Fenway Park to start against the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday. The reason he didn’t drive himself: He lost his car keys “like three weeks ago.” Mayer was promoted from Triple-A Worcester when third baseman Alex Bregman was placed on the 10-day injured list with a significant right quad strain.

Ken Powtak.