Red Sox sweep Dodgers in Los Angeles as Rafaela homers twice in 8-4 finale
Boston hit three third-inning home runs to beat Los Angeles 8-4 on Sunday night, finishing a three-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions and extending its run to eight straight series wins.
The Boston Red Sox swept the Los Angeles Dodgers with an 8-4 win on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium. Boston hit three home runs in the third inning, with Ceddanne Rafaela homering twice, completing the three-game sweep and extending the club's streak to eight consecutive series victories.
The Boston Red Sox beat the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, completing a three-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions. Ceddanne Rafaela homered twice, and Boston hit three home runs in the third inning alone to take control of the game. The sweep extended a remarkable run for the Red Sox, who have now won eight consecutive series. Boston entered the weekend holding a strong position for the American League's No. 2 wild card spot and, according to reports, has its sights set on the AL East title. The Dodgers, meanwhile, are in their 137th season as a franchise and arrived as back-to-back champions, but were outplayed throughout the series on their own field. Both clubs were among the most aggressive at the trade deadline. The Dodgers acquired pitcher Tarik Skubal, while the Red Sox added catcher Adley Rutschman, and both earned high marks in assessments of all 30 teams' deadline activity. The sweep offered an early look at how those moves are settling in.
Red Sox complete sweep with 8-4 win at Dodger Stadium
Boston closed out the weekend at Dodger Stadium with an 8-4 victory over Los Angeles on Sunday night, completing a three-game sweep of the two-time defending World Series champions.
The decisive blow came in the third inning, when the Red Sox hit three home runs to break the game open. Ceddanne Rafaela supplied two of the homers on the night, and according to reports, the second of them marked the third consecutive game in which he had gone deep during the series. Masataka Yoshida also homered, per reports. Boston's four solo home runs accounted for much of its scoring, according to reports.
On the mound for the Dodgers, Emmet Sheehan struggled badly, allowing five runs over 2⅔ innings in the loss, according to reports. The defeat came one day after the club acquired a starting pitcher, reports noted.
Boston starter Jake Bennett recovered from an early setback to help steady the game for the visitors, according to reports. The Red Sox never relinquished control after the third-inning outburst, holding off the Dodgers through the late innings to seal the sweep on the road.
An eighth straight series win lifts Boston's playoff position
The sweep carried extra weight because of who Boston beat. The Dodgers entered the 2026 season as two-time defending World Series champions, playing their 137th season as a franchise and their 69th in Los Angeles. Taking three straight at Dodger Stadium was no small thing.
The result was Boston's eighth consecutive series victory, a run that has left the club holding a strong position for the No. 2 wild card spot. The Red Sox are aiming higher than that, though. Reports suggest Boston is targeting the AL East title, not merely a wild card berth.
The trip was not without its headaches. According to an Instagram story posted by outfielder Jarren Duran after the win, the team experienced its third plane-related problem since June 24. Boston's players, at least, could fly home with a sweep in hand.
Both clubs were aggressive at the trade deadline
Both teams arrived at the series having reshaped their rosters at the trade deadline. The Dodgers, two-time defending World Series champions, landed pitcher Tarik Skubal from the Detroit Tigers in the headline move of several they made ahead of the deadline. Boston was active too, acquiring catcher Adley Rutschman and, according to reports, making further additions to the roster.
The activity came during a deadline in which 17 of Major League Baseball's 30 clubs operated as buyers, two both bought and sold, and 11 sold. In assessments grading every team's deadline work, the Dodgers, Tigers and Red Sox all received high marks. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal singled out Red Sox executive Craig Breslow for praise, citing his willingness to part with prospects to strengthen the club. Reports also suggested the Skubal deal left the Dodgers holding a large lead over the Yankees in World Series betting odds.
What the sweep means for both teams going forward
Boston leaves Los Angeles with momentum and options. The club holds a strong position for the No. 2 wild card spot, and reports suggest it is aiming higher — at the AL East title itself.
The Dodgers, meanwhile, remain two-time defending World Series champions, and one sweep does little to change their standing. According to reports, the club held a large lead over the Yankees in World Series betting odds following the acquisition of Tarik Skubal. The finale defeat came just a day after the Dodgers acquired a starting pitcher, per reports, a reminder that even aggressive deadline spending guarantees nothing on the field.
Frequently asked questions
Who won the Dodgers vs Red Sox series?
The Boston Red Sox defeated the Los Angeles Dodgers 8-4 on Sunday night at Dodger Stadium, completing a three-game sweep. Boston hit three home runs in the third inning. Ceddanne Rafaela hit two home runs in a game during the series, and according to reports he homered for the third consecutive game in the finale. The win extended Boston's streak to eight consecutive series victories.
Did the Dodgers trade for Tarik Skubal?
The Dodgers acquired pitcher Tarik Skubal in a trade, one of multiple moves the club made ahead of the Major League Baseball trade deadline. The Dodgers received high grades in assessments of all 30 MLB teams' deadline activity, alongside the Tigers and Red Sox. According to reports, the Dodgers held a large lead over the Yankees in World Series betting odds following the Skubal acquisition.
What did the Red Sox do at the MLB trade deadline?
The Red Sox acquired catcher Adley Rutschman and made other additions to their roster ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline, according to reports. Boston earned high marks in post-deadline assessments of all 30 teams. The Athletic's Ken Rosenthal reportedly praised Red Sox executive Craig Breslow for his willingness to trade prospects at the deadline. Seventeen MLB teams were buyers overall, while eleven were sellers.
How does the sweep affect the Red Sox playoff chances?
The sweep gave Boston its eighth consecutive series victory and strengthened its hold on the No. 2 wild card spot. According to reports, the Red Sox are also aiming to win the AL East division. The wins came over a Dodgers club that entered the 2026 season as two-time defending World Series champions, making the sweep one of Boston's more notable results of the year.
What happened with the Red Sox plane?
According to outfielder Jarren Duran, the Red Sox experienced their third plane-related problem since June 24. Duran shared news of the issue in an Instagram story following the win over the Dodgers. Details of the specific problem were not disclosed in the reports, but it marked the third such travel complication for the club in a span of several weeks.
Compiled from reporting by 11 independent outlets. How we source our reporting.
