Red Sox beat Cubs 2-0 to sweep doubleheader after setting Wild Card Series matchup with Yankees

BOSTON (AP) — Wilyer Abreu hit a two-run double in the eighth inning, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Chicago White Sox 2-0 Friday night to sweep a doubleheader.

Brayan Bello allowed four hits over four innings and rookie Jedixson Páez (1-1) gave up three hits in five innings with four strikeouts in his first big league win.

Chicago dropped two games back of San Diego for the top NL wild card. The Padres hosted Arizona later Friday.

Javier Assad (6-2) was the loser. Chicago starter David Petersen allowed three hits over five innings and struck out six.

In the first game, Connor Wong hit a tiebreaking double in the seventh inning, to help the Red Sox rally from a three-run deficit in a 4-3 win that clinched the No. 5 seed in the AL playoffs.

Red Sox beat Cubs 2-0 to sweep doubleheader after setting Wild Card Series matchup with Yankees | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Red Sox’s Isiah Kiner-Falefa (2) is out at second as Chicago Cubs’ Pedro Ramirez, top left, throws to first base for a double play during the fifth inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

Boston will play its Wild Card Series for the second year in a row at the New York Yankees, who won last season’s best-of-three matchup 2-1. It will be the seventh Red Sox-Yankees postseason series.

Friday’s opener was originally scheduled for Sunday afternoon but was moved up because a significant storm was forecast. The series finale, which had been slated for Saturday night, will now be played on Sunday afternoon in St. Petersburg, Florida.

Up Next

Neither team had announced Sunday pitching plans.

Red Sox beat Cubs 2-0 to sweep doubleheader after setting Wild Card Series matchup with Yankees | iNFOnews.ca
Chicago Cubs pitcher David Peterson delivers during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

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See AP’s full MLB coverage here

Red Sox beat Cubs 2-0 to sweep doubleheader after setting Wild Card Series matchup with Yankees | iNFOnews.ca
Boston Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello delivers during the first inning of the second baseball game of a doubleheader against the Chicago Cubs, Friday, Sept. 25, 2026, in Boston. (AP Photo/Greg M. Cooper)

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