The 2013 Boston Red Sox season was the 113th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. Under new manager John Farrell, the Red Sox finished first in the American League East with a record of 97 wins and 65 losses. In the postseason, the Red Sox first defeated the AL wild card Tampa Bay Rays in the ALDS. In the ALCS, the Red Sox defeated the American League Central champion Detroit Tigers in six games. Advancing to the World Series, the Red Sox defeated the National League champion St. Louis Cardinals in six games, to capture the franchise's eighth championship overall and third in ten years. The Red Sox became the second team to win the World Series the season after finishing last in their division; the first had been the 1991 Minnesota Twins.
The Red Sox led the major leagues in runs scored (853), extra-base hits (570), on-base percentage (.349), slugging percentage (.446) and OPS (.795).
Offseason
October On October 4, 2012, the Red Sox fired Bobby Valentine. On October 21, 2012, the Red Sox hired John Farrell to be the new manager of the team. On October 21, 2012, the Red Sox traded SS Mike Avilés to the Blue Jays for David Carpenter as part of the compensation for manager John Farrell.
November On November 10, 2012, the Red Sox came to an agreement with former Atlanta Braves catcher David Ross worth $6.2M over two years. On November 21, 2012, the Red Sox signed former Oakland Athletics outfielder Jonny Gomes to a two-year contract worth $10 million.
December On December 3, 2012, the Red Sox agreed to terms with former Texas Rangers and Los Angeles Angels catcher and 1st baseman Mike Napoli for a 3-year, $39 million contract. The deal was not official until late January because of his hip problems. The deal was reworked for a 1-year, $5 million contract. On December 4, 2012, the Red Sox signed former Philadelphia Phillies and Los Angeles Dodgers outfielder Shane Victorino for a 3-year, $39 million contract. On December 6, 2012, the Red Sox signed former Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers relief pitcher Koji Uehara to a deal. On December 17, 2012, the Red Sox signed former Arizona Diamondbacks and Oakland Athletics shortstop Stephen Drew to a 1-year, $9.5 million deal. On December 19, 2012, the Red Sox signed former Chicago Cubs starting pitcher Ryan Dempster to a 2-year, $26.5 million deal. On December 26, 2012, the Red Sox acquired closer Joel Hanrahan and second baseman/shortstop Brock Holt from the Pittsburgh Pirates in exchange for relief pitcher Mark Melancon, 1st baseman/outfielder Jerry Sands, infielder Iván DeJesús, Jr., and pitcher Stolmy Pimentel.
January On January 31, 2013, the Red Sox signed veteran first baseman Lyle Overbay to a one-year minor league contract.
February On February 20, 2013, the Red Sox acquired former Seattle Mariners first baseman Mike Carp for cash considerations.
Regular season highlights
Season standings
Record vs. opponents
+Red Sox vs. National LeagueTeamNL West ARICOLLADSDPSFGPHIBoston2–13–12–13–02–12–2
Opening Day
The 2013 Red Sox season opened on April 1, with an afternoon road game against the New York Yankees. Jon Lester went five innings, leading to an 8–2 win for the Red Sox. This was Boston's first Opening Day victory since 2010.
Opening Day lineup 2 Jacoby Ellsbury CF18 Shane Victorino RF15 Dustin Pedroia 2B12 Mike Napoli 1B16 Will Middlebrooks 3B39 Jarrod Saltalamacchia C 5 Jonny Gomes DH44 Jackie Bradley Jr. LF10 José Iglesias SS31 Jon Lester P
April Following their Opening Day triumph, the Red Sox improved to 2–0 on Wednesday, April 3, in the second tilt of the three-game series, in a game that saw offseason acquisition Joel Hanrahan rack up his first save as a Red Sox. Boston failed to complete the sweep, however, with starting pitcher Ryan Dempster relinquishing a 4–2 defeat in his Red Sox debut the following evening. In Toronto, the Sox split the first two games of a series against the Blue Jays on April 5 and 6, winning 6–4 in the first game and falling 5–0 in the second. Boston was then victorious in the rubber game, shutting out the Jays 13–0.
The Red Sox won their fourth straight against the Cleveland Indians on April 16. The Red Sox and Indians wore black armbands to honor the victims of the Boston Marathon bombing. A giant American flag flew at half-mast before the series opener with a moment of silence prior to the first pitch. A young Indians fan presented the Red Sox with a sign he wrote in red ink and ornamented with hearts. The note, which was hung in Boston's dugout, read: "From our city to your city: Our hearts and prayers go out to you, Boston. Love, Cleveland." For the entire game, a jersey with No. 617 (one of Boston's area codes), displaying "Boston" above the numerals and "Strong" below them, hung in the Sox' dugout. Additionally, to commemorate Jackie Robinson Day, both teams wore No. 42 jerseys. The Red Sox also placed closer Joel Hanrahan on the disabled list with a hamstring injury.Boston Red Sox vs. Cleveland Indians — Recap – April 16, 2013. Retrieved April 19, 2013.
The Red Sox swept two consecutive series between April 13–18. One at home against the Tampa Bay Rays and another on the road against the Cleveland Indians, resulting in a six-game winning streak which improved their record to 11–4, and put them in first place in the American League East.
The Red Sox had a scheduled weekend series against the Kansas City Royals during April 19–21. The immediate Greater Boston area went on a citywide lockdown in search of a suspect in the Boston Marathon bombing on the morning of April 19 and the first game of the weekend was postponed.Boston Red Sox 2013 Schedule – Red Sox Home and Away. Retrieved April 19, 2013. The Red Sox reported the decision was made "to support efforts of law enforcement officers." A make-up date for the game was not immediately announced.
However, with the second suspect captured that same evening and Fenway Park under tight security, play resumed Saturday, April 20 with a win of 4–3 by Boston over the Royals (assisted by a go-ahead three-run home run by Daniel Nava). Both teams honored the victims of the bombing tragedy by wearing special uniforms/logos. The Red Sox wore white home jerseys with "Boston" on the front instead of the customary "Red Sox" while Kansas City players and staff wore a "B Strong" patch on the front of their jerseys, with the shirts being auctioned off for funds to support victims of the bombing. Following a pregame ceremony, the Red Sox won their sixth straight game, their best start in 11 years with the win against Kansas City. David Ortiz was bothered by inflammation in both heels during spring training and didn't play in any exhibition games, but he was 2 for 4 in his return, tying the score 1-all with a sixth-inning RBI single off James Shields.Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox – Recap – April 20, 2013. Retrieved April 20, 2013. The Red Sox later announced Friday's (April 19) game would be made up as part of a day-night doubleheader on Sunday (April 21). The regularly scheduled game took place at 1:35 p.m., and a nightcap at 7 p.m.
On April 21, Kansas City ended Boston's seven-game winning streak with a 4–2 win over the Red Sox in the opener of a day-night doubleheader. The Royals ended a season-opening streak of 16 games by Red Sox starters allowing three runs or less, tying an AL record achieved by the Oakland Athletics in 1978 and 1981. Red Sox RF Shane Victorino missed his first game of the season after leaving the game on April 20 with back spasms.Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox – Recap – April 21, 2013. Retrieved April 21, 2013.
In the second game of the doubleheader, Kansas City narrowly beat Boston 5–4 in 10 innings to win the weekend series (and sweep the doubleheader), as a result of Lorenzo Cain walking with two outs and bases loaded in the 10th inning. Even with both wins against the Red Sox on April 21, Boston remained in first place in the AL East as did Kansas City in the AL Central.Kansas City Royals vs. Boston Red Sox – Recap – April 21, 2013 (second game). Retrieved April 21, 2013. Dustin Pedroia reached base in all their first 18 games, the most consecutive games to start a season by a Red Sox 2B (breaking the record set by Pete Runnels in 1959). Koji Uehara went 18 1/3 scoreless innings before allowing Billy Butler's homer in the eighth inning of the night game. In his first two at bats on the day game, Jonny Gomes used a bat with the words "Boston Strong" on it as well as the names of the four people killed in the bombing and its aftermath. He popped out and grounded out, then said he planned to auction off the bats for charity.
Opening a new series against Oakland, the Red Sox came out victorious (9–6) in the first game on April 22. They were defeated (13–0) in a rain-shortened 7-inning game on April 23.Oakland Athletics vs. Boston Red Sox – Recap – April 23, 2013. Retrieved April 24, 2013. Boston proceeded to win the rubber game of the series on April 24 by a score of 6–5.
The Red Sox swept a four-game home stand on April 25–28 against the Astros, their first series against Houston since the Astros moved to the American League West. The sweep improved Boston's record to 18–7.
The Red Sox closed April by falling, 9–7, on the road to the Blue Jays.
May Boston opened the month of May in the middle of a three-game road series against Toronto. Having lost the first game on April 30, the Red Sox won the next two games 10–1 and 3–1 on May 1 and 2. Traveling to Texas to take on the Rangers, the team was shut out for the third time of the season, relinquishing 7 runs and 18 hits to Texas on May 3. The Rangers took the next two games, on May 4 and 5, by respective scores of 5–1 and 4–3. This marked the first time Boston was swept in the 2013 season. The Red Sox' May slide continued when they lost three of four games at home against Minnesota from May 6–9. They closed out their weeklong homestand by losing 2 of 3 to the Blue Jays from May 10–12. On Sunday, May 12, the Red Sox' new 2013 starting pitcher, Ryan Dempster, fell to 2–4 in a game in which Boston relinquished 12 runs.