After a rocky start coming out of the All-Star break, the Red Sox are suddenly streaking again, winners of four straight and six of their last seven. Boston enters Sunday in second place in the AL East, having passed the Yankees both for that spot and for the first wild card position in the American League.

Tempers flared momentarily after the seventh inning of the Red Sox win' Saturday with benches — and the bullpens — both clearing.

Matt Kawahara covers the Astros for the Houston Chronicle. He can be reached at [email protected]. He joined the Chronicle in June 2023 after previously working a