The 2015 Boston Red Sox season was the 115th season in the franchise's Major League Baseball history. The Red Sox finished last in the five-team American League East with a record of 78–84, fifteen games behind the first place Toronto Blue Jays. It was the third last-place finish for the team in four years.
Offseason
October 2014 On October 30, 2014, the Red Sox re-signed closer RHP Koji Uehara to a two-year, $18 million contract.
November 2014 On November 24, 2014, the Red Sox signed IF Pablo Sandoval to a five-year, $100 million contract and IF/OF Hanley Ramírez to a four-year, $90 million contract.
December 2014 On December 10, 2014, the Red Sox traded RHP Rubby De La Rosa and RHP Allen Webster to the Diamondbacks for LHP Wade Miley. On December 11, 2014, the Red Sox traded OF Yoenis Céspedes, RHP Alex Wilson and prospect RHP Gabe Speier to the Tigers for RHP Rick Porcello. Later that day, the Red Sox signed RHP Justin Masterson to a one-year, $9.5 million contract. On December 17, 2014, the Red Sox traded prospect RHP Aaron Kurcz to the Braves for reliever RHP Anthony Varvaro. On December 19, 2014, the Red Sox traded 3B Will Middlebrooks to the Padres for C Ryan Hanigan. Later that day the Red Sox re-signed reliever LHP Craig Breslow to a one-year, $2 million contract.
January 2015 On January 27, 2015, the Red Sox traded RHP Anthony Ranaudo to the Rangers for LHP Robbie Ross Jr. On January 30, 2015, the Red Sox signed RHP Alexi Ogando to a one-year, $1.5 million contract.
February 2015 On February 21, 2015, the Red Sox extended manager John Farrell's contract through 2017, with a club option for 2018. Later that day, it was revealed, that the contract of GM Ben Cherington had been extended during the 2014 campaign, for an unknown period.
March 2015 On March 30, 2015, the Red Sox acquired C Sandy León from the Washington Nationals for cash considerations.
Regular season
Opening Day
The 2015 Red Sox season opened on April 6, with an afternoon game against the Philadelphia Phillies in Citizens Bank Park. It was the first time in franchise history that the Red Sox opened the season against an interleague opponent. Clay Buchholz, in his first career Opening Day start, went seven scoreless innings, giving up three hits, one walk and striking out nine. He committed one error in the first inning and handed a 4–0 lead over to the bullpen. Junichi Tazawa and Tommy Layne held the Phillies scoreless. Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramírez both homered twice, two solo shots by Pedroia, a solo shot and a grand slam by Ramirez. Mookie Betts added a solo home run and Boston won 8–0.
Opening Day lineup 50 Mookie Betts CF15 Dustin Pedroia 2B34 David Ortiz 1B13 Hanley Ramírez LF48 Pablo Sandoval 3B18 Shane Victorino RF 2 Xander Bogaerts SS10 Ryan Hanigan C11 Clay Buchholz P Note: no designated hitter (DH), per the rules at this time, due to playing in a National League park
April April 6–9, in Philadelphia On April 6, right after the opening day game against the Phillies, the Red Sox announced that they signed free-agent-to-be RHP Rick Porcello to a four-year, $82.5 million contract extension through 2019, contradicting an earlier report, that both parties won't engage in contract negotiations during the season. Game 2: In game two of the three-game road series in Philadelphia, Hanley Ramírez left the bases loaded, against former Red Sox closer Jonathan Papelbon, in the top of the eighth by flying out to Ben Revere on the warning track, just missing his second grand slam of the season and Boston lost 2–4. Game 3: In the final game, Xander Bogaerts drove in three runs with a triple and pitcher Justin Masterson had one RBI in two hits and the Red Sox took the opening series with a 6–2 win. Red Sox won the series 2–1 (16–6 runs)
April 10–12, in New York (AL) Game 1: Game one of the first series against the Yankees went into extra innings, after a blown save by Edward Mujica in the bottom of the ninth tying the game 3–3. In the bottom of the 12th inning, during Carlos Beltrán's at bat, some of the lights went out in Yankee stadium, and the game went into a light delay. Play resumed after a 16-minute delay. The game remained tied until the top of the 16th, when David Ortiz went deep. But Mark Teixeira tied the game in the bottom with a home run as well. In the top of the 18th, Red Sox took the lead again with an RBI single by Pablo Sandoval, but yet again the Yankees tied it with an RBI double by Beltrán. In the top of the 19th Mookie Betts drove in Bogaerts with a sacrifice fly and this time New York could not answer, despite a leadoff single by Jacoby Ellsbury. Having used all of their bullpen both teams relied on long relief. Esmil Rogers went 4 2/3 innings, and 81 pitches for New York and Steven Wright had 5 innings and 78 pitches. The game went 6 hours and 49 minutes, the longest in Red Sox Franchise history. Game 2: Joe Kelly, in his first start of the season, pitched one run, one hit ball for seven innings in game two of the series. Brock Holt had a 4 hit day with 3 RBIs, Dustin Pedroia and Daniel Nava collected 2 RBIs each. Alexi Ogando gave up three 2-out hits in the eighth, one three-run shot by Chris Young, before Anthony Varvaro got the last out in the eighth and Robbie Ross shut the door in the ninth. Game 3: Clay Buchholz could not repeat his stellar opening day outing, allowing 10 runs (9 earned) in 3 1/3 innings and the Red Sox dropped the series finale 4–14 in the Bronx. Red Sox won the series 2–1 (18–23 runs)
April 13–15, vs. Washington Game 1: Nationals Starter Jordan Zimmermann was chased after 2 1/3 innings in the Red Sox home opener, when the Red Sox scored eight runs in the first three innings, with the help of questionable defense by Washington in the third. Betts robbed Bryce Harper of a home run in the first inning, stole two bases in one play in the same inning and had a three-run home run in the third. Porcello allowed four runs, three earned, in eight innings of work and the Red Sox won 9–4. Before the game closer Koji Uehara was activated from the 15-day DL and Tommy Layne was optioned to Triple-A Pawtucket. Game 2: After surrendering a 5–1 lead to a six-run top of the fifth by the Nationals, Boston took advantage of two hit batsmen and three errors (two by pitcher Blake Treinen on the same play) in the bottom of the seventh to regain the lead, scoring three runs without the benefit of a hit. Koji Uehara earned his first save in his first appearance of the season with a perfect ninth inning. The Red Sox secured the first three series in a season for the first time since 1952 and scored the most runs in a hitless inning since August 25, 2001 against the Rangers. Pablo Sandoval left the game early due to a bruised foot, which moved Hanley Ramírez back to the infield, and an MRI for Xander Bogaerts, who was sidelined for the game, came back clean. Game 3: Washington avoided the sweep on Jackie Robinson Day and chased Wade Miley early from the game in the top of the third inning. Boston's rally ended in the top of the seventh when Tyler Moore lifted a two-run home run over the Green Monster and eventually lost the game 5–10. Red Sox won the series 2–1 (22–21 runs)
April 17–20, vs. Baltimore Game 1: Orioles starter Ubaldo Jiménez was ejected after 3 2/3 innings for hitting Pablo Sandoval up on the right shoulder near the head in the first game of a four-game series. Ryan Hanigan tied the game in the bottom of fifth with his first long ball as a member of the Red Sox. In the bottom of the ninth Mike Napoli drew a lead-off walk, Daniel Nava moved him in scoring position with a sacrifice bunt and Xander Bogaerts drove him in with a bloop single for the first Boston walk-off of the season. Game 2: In game 2 Orioles pitching held the Red Sox offense to just one run while their own offense got 11 hits from Clay Buchholz but only scored twice. Buchholz pitched himself out of a bases-loaded, nobody out situation in the top of the fifth, David Ortiz and Brock Holt had both a three hit day, accounting for six of the seven hits. Game 3: Rick Porcello and Miguel González exchanged home runs in the first inning, a two-run shot by Adam Jones and a three-run shot by Hanley Ramírez, in the third game. That was all the offense for the Red Sox while Baltimore scored six more runs, all charged to Porcello. The game was delayed in the middle of the fourth due to an injury by home plate umpire Paul Emmel, the umpires finished the game with three men. David Ortiz was ejected in the bottom of fifth, arguing a check swing appeal. Game 4: The final game of the four-game series was rain shortened to seven innings on Patriots' Day and the 103rd birthday of Fenway Park. Boston scored four times and brought ten batters to the plate on only one hit in the bottom of the third, supporting one-run ball from Justin Masterson in five innings. The game was called after a 1:42 hour delay. Red Sox split the series 2–2 (14–15 runs)
April 21–23, in St. Petersburg Game 1: Koji Uehara earned his second save of the season, after shutout game by Wade Miley with the help of the bullpen, against the Rays. The lone run of the game was scored on a throwing error by second baseman Ryan Brett in the top of the third inning. Game 2: Joe Kelly went into the sixth inning with a four-run lead, but gave up four straight hits followed by a bases loaded walk with nobody out. Craig Breslow could not stop the bleeding and allowed two inherited runners to score, tying the game 5–5. Edward Mujica gave up two more runs in the bottom of the seventh from which the Red Sox could not recover. Dustin Pedroia hit a two-run home run and David Ortiz passed Chipper Jones on the all-time home run leader list to take sole possession of 32nd place with 469 career home runs. Game 3: Clay Buchholz went six innings allowing only two hits and one run with a season high ten strikeouts. The game remained tied into the bottom of the ninth inning, where Buchholz saw his efforts wasted with René Rivera's hit off of Anthony Varvaro down the third base line, allowing Tim Beckham to score the walk-off run from second base. This was the first series lost by the Red Sox this season. Red Sox lost the series 1–2 (7–9 runs)
April 24–26, in Baltimore