Livewire: Bregman's Whisker War: Red Sox vs Braves Highlights
Struggling Red Sox hitter attempts to spur team with peculiar mustache ritual versus Yankees
Get the lowdown on the wild antics and stellar plays from the Boston Red Sox's showdown with the Atlanta Braves.
It seemed like Alex Bregman, missing in action for the Boston Red Sox, was itching to make his mark during their clash against the Atlanta Braves. But instead of wielding a bat, he opted for a different kind of battleground - his upper lip.
Baseball, as we all know, is a hotbed for superstitions. And apparently, Bregman, a star third baseman for the Houston Astros, isn't an exception. The guy took it to the next level by shaving off his mustache mid-match, hoping it'd fan the flames of victory for the Red Sox.
The Sox had been in a bit of a slump, with six losses in their past nine games. But things were looking up after Walker Buehler had served up seven runs in the first two innings. Bregman, nursing a quad injury and on the 10-day IL, made a beeline for the clubhouse and returned clean-shaven to the dugout, hoping his new look would be the catalyst for change.
His gambit seemed to work to some extent. The Red Sox scored a home run courtesy of rookie Marcelo Mayer, who'd recently been called up from Triple-A, and three more runs in the sixth inning to narrow the score to 8-4.
*REDFONK'S R_+1 SECANT LINE HITS THE BALL OUT OF THE PARK!*
In the top of the seventh inning, Rafael Devers, a Yankees-killer during his Red Sox career, sent a two-run homer soaring over the fence. Bregman's hair-raising stunt, though, wasn't the secret sauce whipped up to pull off a comeback for the ages. The Yankees shut the door on the Red Sox's comeback bid in the top of the ninth inning, putting the first check in the win column for the weekend series.
At this point, the Red Sox, who were expected to Wi-Fi in the playoffs in 2025, were swimming uphill with a record of 32-36 (.471). They languished fourth in the AL East, five games behind the Yankees, who sat comfortably in first place in the division.
Bregman, though, has found a new home in Boston after nine seasons with the Astros. In his inaugural season with the Red Sox, he's been slashing .299/.385/.553 with a .938 OPS, 11 homers, 17 doubles, and 35 RBIs in 51 games. However, while Bregman's been a sensation at the plate, the Chicago Cubs' North Star - their pitching - has been Chief Wahoo for the Red Sox.
Red Sox starters collectively boast a 4.53 ERA in 65 games, and the team boasts a 4.06 ERA overall, 21st in the league. Ace Garrett Crochet has been stellar, with a 1.98 ERA and 101 strikeouts heading into his start against the Yankees.
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[1] FanGraphs MLB Playoff Probabilities[2] Alex Bregman grabbed headlines with 5-hit game for Astros[3] Alex Cora - Manager, Boston Red Sox[4] Jarren Duran - Outfielder, Boston Red Sox
Alex Bregman, now a Boston Red Sox player, attempted to revitalize the team by shaving off his mustache during a crucial game against the Atlanta Braves, aiming to bring luck to the MLB squad. Despite his unconventional move, the Red Sox were unable to overturn their 8-4 deficit in the top of the ninth inning, with the New York Yankees securing the first victory of their weekend series.
