Boston Red Sox 15-game winning streak finally comes to an end, one short of setting franchise record

Just a few weeks ago, the Boston Red Sox were one of Major League Baseball's biggest disappointments.

Despite their hefty payroll and a roster filled with stars and exciting young prospects, injuries had ravaged much of the team's depth through the first half of the season. Entering July, the Red Sox were dead last in the American League East at 37-48. They had the third-worst record in the AL as a whole, were 14 games out of first place and seemed posed to become sellers at the trade deadline.