Aroldis Chapman Struggles in Ninth-Inning Showdown

In a surprising turn of events, Boston Red Sox closer Aroldis Chapman faced his first hit since July 23 on Wednesday night, when Shea Langeliers of the Athletics delivered a decisive ninth-inning double. This hit ended an extraordinary streak for Chapman, who retired 50 consecutive batters before the big play.

From July 26 to September 7, Chapman showcased dominance over hitters with 17 appearances under his belt. During this period, he logged 14.2 shutout innings, striking out an impressive 21 batters while only allowing four walks. His remarkable ability to shut down offenses was further highlighted by a performance last Sunday, where he struck out four batters in a single inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks - albeit with a wild pitch allowing one batter to reach base.

Red Sox in a Tight Race

This season, Chapman has been nothing short of sensational for the Red Sox, accumulating 29 saves and maintaining a stellar 1.14 ERA. His contributions have been vital for a bullpen eager to assist the Red Sox in their quest for a playoff spot and contention for the American League East title.

However, Wednesday's game did not unfold in Chapman’s favor or that of the Red Sox. Entering the ninth inning with the game tied at four, Chapman encountered trouble right away. After Langeliers' double, Lawrence Butler followed up with a game-winning RBI single, snatching a 5-4 victory for the Athletics.

The Red Sox will take a break on Thursday before aiming to regain their momentum in a crucial three-game home series against the New York Yankees starting Friday.