Abreu's Two-Homer Lift
Wilyer Abreu's Two Home Runs Propel Red Sox to 5-3 Victory Over Rays
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Key Points
1
In Game 1 of Boston's doubleheader, Wilyer Abreu contributed to a 10-0 win by going 1-for-4 with a walk.
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Abreu recorded his first multi-homer game of the 2026 season, and his first since July of last year against the Cubs.
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Following the second game, Abreu sits at 13 homers, 46 RBIs, six stolen bases, and a .777 OPS across 409 plate appearances in 2026.
4
July was a slugging slump for Abreu, going 8-for-39 (.205) with a homer, four doubles, four RBIs, seven runs, six walks and 13 strikeouts in the first 10 games of the month.
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Abreu will look to stay hot for Game 3 of the series on Saturday in Beantown as the second half of the year begins.
Wilyer Abreu hit two home runs in the second game of a doubleheader to lead the Boston Red Sox past the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3, according to MLB. Willson Contreras also went deep as Boston's offense carried the day in Beantown.
The win capped a strong doubleheader for the Red Sox. Boston had already cruised to a 10-0 victory in Game 1. Abreu went 1-for-4 with a walk in that opener before exploding in the nightcap.
Abreu's Multi-Homer Night Powers Red Sox Offense
Abreu finished Game 2 going 2-for-4 with two homers and three RBIs, per MLB. It was his first multi-homer game of the 2026 season. He had not done it since July of last year against the Chicago Cubs.
The outburst pushed Abreu's season totals to 13 home runs and 46 RBIs across 409 plate appearances. He also has six stolen bases and a .777 OPS on the year. Those numbers put him among Boston's most productive hitters in 2026.
July Slump Makes Friday's Breakout Even Sweeter
The timing of Abreu's big night stands out. He had struggled to open July, going just 8-for-39 — a .205 batting average — in the month's first 10 games. He managed only one homer and four RBIs in that stretch.
He also struck out 13 times against just six walks in that cold spell. Friday's two-homer game looks like a turning point. Boston will need him to stay hot with the second half of the season now underway.
Ford Homers for First Time, Soderstrom Cuts Into Deficit
Elsewhere around the league, Harry Ford hit his first career home run — a two-run shot that pushed the Washington Nationals' lead to 8-2, according to MLB. The blast was a milestone moment for the young catcher.
In Oakland, Tyler Soderstrom clubbed a two-run homer to center field in the fourth inning, pulling the Athletics to within one run at 4-3, per Yahoo Sports. The shot gave the A's life but still left them chasing.
Red Sox Set Up Series Finale With Saturday's Game 3
Boston now leads the series with Tampa Bay heading into Game 3 on Saturday. Abreu's two-homer night gives the Red Sox real momentum. If he can carry Friday's form into the weekend, Boston's offense could be tough to stop.
The Diamondbacks also saw action Friday, with Corbin Carroll involved in a two-run home run play per MLB. Across the board, individual performances lit up the Friday MLB slate as the second half of 2026 gets underway.
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