Red Sox Sweep Astros 6-1, Extend Win Streak to Six

The Boston Red Sox have solidified their status as serious contenders following a strong post-All-Star break performance, including a recent sweep of the Houston Astros, who have been struggling despite trade deadline moves. The Red Sox faced four first-place teams after the break and managed a 7-5 record, leveraging their strong home field advantage at Fenway Park and dominating within their division. The Astros, despite leading the AL West, have lost eight of their last ten games, including a lopsided 6-1 loss in the series finale where defensive errors and pitching struggles, including Framber Valdez ending a 10-game winning streak, contributed to their defeat. Key moments in the sweep included a six-run fourth inning by Boston capitalizing on five Houston mistakes, and strong pitching performances from Lucas Giolito for the Red Sox. Carlos Correa showed some offensive spark for Houston but it was not enough to change the series outcome. With the Red Sox continuing to face both top-tier and lower-ranked teams, their playoff hopes are increasingly credible.