Friday evening at Fenway Park had a buzz to it. Not due to the Red Sox triumphing over the formidable Dodgers, but also because there was a momentary sense that Boston truly fit in on that night at the ballpark. The hitters seemed focused and determined than before; the atmosphere crackled with excitement as fans dared to hope that perhaps this team had finally found its stride. However exciting the scoreboard may have looked declaring a victory, for the Red Sox, the broader narrative revealed a tale subtly woven by the Dodgers through every pitch and every inning played.

That’s exactly what NESN’s George Balekji zeroed in on during the postgame breakdown. In a refreshingly honest segment, Balekji didn’t celebrate the win as much as he dissected the cracks that the Dodgers exposed. “What we saw Friday night against the Dodgers with their bats is what stood out,” he said. “It was smart, sound, professional hitting.” That wasn’t just praise for Los Angeles; it was a clear contrast to what the Red Sox continue to lack.

Balekji pointed out how the Dodgers were willing to do the little things, sacrifice flies, situational groundouts, and advancing runners. “Instead of swinging and missing time and time again like we’ve seen with the Red Sox,” he added, Boston still finds itself leaving innings (and runners) empty-handed. A .111 average with runners in scoring position? That’s not bad luck, that’s a trend.

And that’s where the call to action came loud and clear: the front office needs to buy. “They need more talent in the rotation. They definitely need more talent in their lineup,” Balekji stressed.

This wasn’t vague deadline chatter; it was a pointed warning. The Red Sox aren’t bad. But they’re not built to contend, not yet. Beating the Dodgers felt good, but it exposed the truth: if Boston doesn’t help itself now, no one else will. And this fight-first roster might be left fighting for nothing.

The message? Swing big or strike out on the season.

Red Sox manager stunned by Dodgers’ visiting crowd noise

It wasn’t just the 414-foot Shohei Ohtani leadoff homer that made jaws drop at Fenway Saturday night; it was the crowd’s reaction. As Ohtani’s 108.5 mph blast rocketed into center, thousands of Dodgers fans exploded in cheers, turning Fenway into a sea of blue for a moment that Red Sox manager Alex Cora called unprecedented.

“That was Dodger Stadium-like, to be honest with you,” Cora said. “I’ve never seen so many people from the opposition in one ballpark. That was different.”

The noise didn’t stop after the first inning. Dodgers fans made their presence felt all night, something not lost on Boston players. Outfielder Jarren Duran, who went 3-for-4 with two triples, a double, and two RBIs, soaked it all in.

“There was a lot of blue out there,” Duran said. “More than I thought there would be, but it’s awesome… usually we hear that when it’s us vs. the Yankees… today we got a little Dodgers and Red Sox fans yelling at each other. So that’s always fun.”

The dueling chants created a playoff-like tension, even in July, and Duran thrived in the moment.

Red Sox starter Garrett Crochet, who recovered after giving up two solo homers in the first to shut the Dodgers down across the next five innings, noticed the buzz too.

“Honestly, I feel like we’ve been seeing it the past month-plus,” Crochet said of the packed house. “It seems like every weekend here is sold out and very lively. It’s a great crowd to play in front of, for sure.”

Even with the Dodger blue takeover early, Crochet helped flip the energy by striking out Ohtani in back-to-back at-bats, shifting the crowd back toward Boston’s side, and reminding everyone that Fenway still has fight.