Record-setting Red Sox embarrass Yankees, hint at their potential

Record-breaking Red Sox embarrass Yankees, hint at potential originally appeared on NBC Sports Boston

We take a break from watching the Celtics title to provide a baseball update: How are those running the Red Sox?

They just completed one of the toughest parts of their schedule in impressive fashion, winning four of six from the Phillies and Yankees, otherwise known as the two best teams in baseball. And they finished it off with a historic performance that illustrates the type of team they have become.

In Sunday night’s 9-3 win over New York, the Red Sox stole a franchise-record nine bases. The previous mark of eight stood since 1940, and it has probably been at least that long since a Red Sox team featured such an athletic collection of young talent.

“Expect that from us,” coach Alex Cora told reporters. “Let’s go further.”

It took a couple of months, but the Red Sox have established their identity as an aggressive team built around youth.

They lead the league with 69 steals and 15 players have already stolen at least one. Backup catcher Reese McGuire and first baseman Bobby Dalbec have combined to go 6-for-6, with the latter recording Sunday night’s record steal.

The real stars on the bases are a trio of youngsters. Rookie shortstop David Hamilton stole four bases on Sunday and has now been caught just once in 19 attempts. He is just four off the American League lead. Outfielder Jarren Durán had two steals and continues to defend his All-Star selection with 17 steals and an .816 OPS. And exciting young center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela stole his ninth bag before taking his third on a missed throw.

“There are certain teams, that’s their DNA and that’s how they’re going to play,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone told reporters. including Ian Browne of MLB.com.

“Obviously, the Red Sox have several fast players, and that’s how they play now.”

So now the Red Sox are in the history books. On Sunday, they were able to take advantage of Yankees catcher José Treviño, who has a notoriously slow transfer and allowed the Red Sox to steal multiple bases without throwing a throw. The ingredients may have been in place for a record-breaking night, but this was no exception. That’s the Red Sox, and he has them two games over .500 in a season in which many considered them last.

“I had no idea,” Durán told MLB.com. “I didn’t know anything about the record until they put it on the big screen. I thought, ‘Oh wow, we set a record.’ But records are meant to be broken, so I’m sure ours will eventually be broken, so in It doesn’t really mean much, but we’re going to keep doing our thing.”