Curtis Mead exits Red Sox debut after being hit by pitch

sportsJul 28, 202615249

Curtis Mead exited his first game with the Boston Red Sox after being hit on the hand by a pitch in the fourth inning of Monday’s 4-2 victory over the Oakland Athletics in Sacramento. The Red Sox, who acquired Mead from the Nationals on Saturday in the Connelly Early trade, later listed him with a left wrist contusion and said X-rays were negative. The game swung after Mead’s exit when Ceddanne Rafaela hit his first career grand slam to break a tied game and provide an enduring lead. Starter Payton Tolle worked 5 1/3 innings, allowing two solo homers while striking out seven and throwing 90 pitches. Boston’s bullpen finished the game without allowing additional runs, and the win moved the Red Sox to 55-50 overall, 18-3 in July, and extended their road winning streak to 10 games.

Alex Speier

@alexspeier.bsky.social

It is wild to me that big league games happen here. Red Sox in Sacramento for four…. With Curtis Mead making his Sox debut at 2B and batting second tonight.

818h ago

Molly Knight4

Get ready for the wind and sun to nuke every outfielder. I hate it

eliemmasdad.bsky.social3

The A's needed a home and Sacramento obliged. We didn't necessarily want the A's and spent some good money to make the field at least as challenging as other mid market MLB stadiums. Good value for the fans, too. Sacto is a great town and this is their reward for having to support the NBA Kings.

motyaf.bsky.social1

I'd be seeing 2 games if they were played in Oakland. End of an era. Great fans and teams, easy tickets and access. SAC is HOT!

Beomoose1

Challenge level impossible: MLB do something about terrible owners.

Red Sox Nation Stats

@rsnstats.com

In saying goodbye, Connelly Early tells #RedSox Nation it's "impossible to describe the amount of joy and happiness you have brought to my life." Last night Early was dealt to #Nationals for infielder Curtis Mead, who will be with the team tomorrow.

33Yesterday

Jen McCaffrey

@jcmccaffrey.bsky.social

Curtis Mead playing second and hitting second tonight vs Athletics Yoshida DH, Mead 2B, Contreras 1B, Abreu RF, Rafaela CF, Durbin 3B, Duran LF, Monasterio SS, Wong C, Tolle P

308h ago

Jordan Bastian

@bastianmlb.bsky.social

Alex Bregman has a homer, two doubles and a single tonight. No triple for the cycle, but his first four-hit game since April 15 last year with the Red Sox. Nico Hoerner also has a 4-hit game (capped off by a 2-run HR in 9th) and is batting .432 in his last 10 games for the Cubs.

233h ago

Peter Abraham

@peteabeglobe.bsky.social

The Red Sox Notebook delves into the trade for Curtis Mead, who will join the team on Monday: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/26/s...

15Yesterday

Tim Healey

@timbhealey.bsky.social

How Curtis Mead joining the Red Sox impacts Durbin, Seigler, Rafaela, and others: www.bostonglobe.com/2026/07/27/s...

115h ago

Dart Adams

@dartadams.bsky.social

The Boston Red Sox improve to 18-3 in July with a 4-2 win in…*checks notes* West Sacramento?

102h ago

T. Ferox1

From the highlights I assumed they were playing a community college

Céspedes Family BBQ

@cespedesbbq.bsky.social

NEW POD - Curtis Mead for Connelly Early is such a fun (and smart) challenge trade - SDP sweeps MIA; Padres buyers now? Marlins L12 :( - TBR sweeps CLE; Rays should go for it - DET splits w/ KCR...not ideal plus: special guest Erick Fedde explains his Pop-A-Shot prowess 🏀🤩

812h ago

MLB Trade Rumors

@mlbtraderumors.bsky.social

Shea Langeliers' season could be over, as the #Athletics catcher is weighing surgery to fix a torn meniscus: www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/07/shea...

8Yesterday

Kyle Williams

@kwilliamsmedia.bsky.social

It's Paul Toboni's job to balance the present with the future. In trading Curtis Mead, he acquired a promising lefty in Connelly Early who can help this season's team in the playoff push while also bolstering the rotation in the ensuing years. www.thebanner.com/sports/natio...

6Yesterday

Gabrielle Starr

@gfstarr1.bsky.social

‘You have to be willing to move from areas of depth, no matter how much it may hurt’: Red Sox chief baseball officer Craig Breslow on the Early/Mead swap and upcoming MLB trade deadline www.bostonherald.com/2026/07/26/r...

6Yesterday

Blaze-ing in Absentia

@mordi-rc.bsky.social

Curtis Mead unfortunately had to leave his Red Sox debut Early

54h ago

Dan Sanchez

@oriolesreview.bsky.social

This about sums it up for me. The risk for the Nationals is that pitchers are inherently risky, and a recent elbow injury should make you nervous. But what Boston got back was a good bat without a position whose production may not be fully sustainable. www.baseballprospectus.com/news/article...

Mead is an upgrade, assuming that this really is Curtis Mead, and that his new pull-hitting proclivities are a permanent part of his identity and not a trick of the light. Or that he can keep walking the two-strike tightrope he’s been navigating so far. Or that he’s suddenly competent against right-handed pitching, capable of slugging .452 on pitches breaking away from him. (That one feels like a tough sell.) Patrick Sandoval stepped in for Early and has filled the role well, and the team has to feel comfortable with a theoretical Crochet/Gray/Suárez/Tolle postseason rotation. Everything looks fine, as long as you keep your head down and take it day by day. But once you head up to the crow’s nest, things get a little dicey. Suddenly you have a guy who’s under team control for four more years, who can only really play first base or DH, positions that are locked up for at least a year, maybe two.

515h ago

Jason Collette

@jasoncollette.bsky.social

Curtis Mead done after 2 at bats as that hand stiffened up after the 4th inning HBP. Uh oh

44h ago

Sky Kalkman

@skykalkman.bsky.social

My main concern about the Red Sox and Mead is that they don't have the coaching to continue helping him in the way the new Nationals leadership has this year. Boston has gotten a bunch of hitting prospects to AAAA, but none have broken through yet. Durbin needed a private hitting coach to rebound.

4Yesterday

2 sources

sports.yahoo.comCurtis Mead leaves first start with Red Sox after trade early after being hit by pitch in win over Athletics blog.bakermag.pp.uaCurtis Mead leaves first start with Red Sox after trade early after being hit by pitch in win over Athletics

Curtis Mead exits Red Sox debut after being hit by pitchsports

Curtis Mead exits Red Sox debut after being hit by pitch

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