After rolling to an 11-1 win in Monday’s opener, the Red Sox will look to keep the bats going when they continue their series with the Diamondbacks Tuesday night. The Red Sox belted 16 hits in the win, including seven doubles and two home runs, going 6 for 13 with runners in scoring position. The nine extra-base hits tied a season high.
Boston, now 67-58, had three players — Willson Contreras, Ceddanne Rafaela, and Nick Sogard — hit at least two extra-base hits for the second time this season. All nine starting batters recorded an RBI, just the fourth time since 2000 the team has accomplished that, and the fourth time at Fenway Park since 1950. The Red Sox have won three of their last five since snapping a five-game losing streak.
Lefthander Ranger Suarez will get the nod for Tuesday’s game, while Arizona will counter with righthander Merrill Kelly. Suarez is 4-3 with a 3.25 ERA but has struggled against the Diamondbacks historically, going 1-4 with a 6.91 ERA in 11 career appearances. Kelly, meanwhile, is 8-10 with a 5.11 ERA but has enjoyed success against Boston, posting a 2-1 record and 2.66 ERA in three career starts.
The two teams are an even 2-2 against one another since August of 2026, but the Diamondbacks have hit a rough patch. Arizona has lost two in a row and four of their last six, falling to 66-60. They could be without second baseman Ketel Marte, who was placed on the restricted list Monday after not showing up at Fenway Park. Corbin Carroll, who went 0-for-2 in Monday’s loss, hasn’t been driving the ball out of the park as often lately: he’s hit 5 home runs in his last 51 games compared to 13 in his previous 71.
Adley Rutschman is 3 for 23 since joining the Red Sox, but two of those hits came during Monday’s win. Contreras belted his career-high 25th home run of the season in the opener. The Red Sox are 13-4 at Fenway Park since the All-Star break, and their crowd gave them all the motivation they needed after a road loss. First pitch is set for 7:10 p.m., with coverage on Ch. 38, NESN, and WEEI-FM 93.7.
