Rafael Devers, Boston Red Sox. (Photo by Mike Stobe/Getty Images)
Rafael Devers ended that poor baseball on this towering blast Sunday night.
Rafael Devers made a slick play with his glove, then a statement with his bat.
The Boston Red Sox third baseman made an incredible diving play and throw at the hot corner to get New York Yankees superstar outfielder Aaron Judge out by a fraction of a step at first base in the bottom of the fourth inning. It was such an impressive play that Judge was initially ruled safe before the call was eventually overturned. Turns out, Devers was just getting started for the Sox.
Then in the top of the seventh inning with the game tied at six runs apiece and two outs, Devers unloads on one of the most impressive home runs you’ll see all year. He took Yankees right-hander Mike King 427 feet deep into the right field bleachers. Although, you could have told us this gargantuan moonshot would have traveled over 500 feet and we would have believed you.
Rafael Devers’ blast may be the boost the Red Sox need to get things going.
Entering play on Sunday night, the Red Sox found themselves in the cellar of the AL East standings at 3-6. Only the Kansas City Royals and the Los Angeles Angels have gotten off to a slower start in the Junior Circuit than the Red Sox. With more than have of the American League qualifying for the postseason this year, Boston has some work to do to ensure it’ll finish top half in 60 games.
Even though the Red Sox know they play in a tough division with at least two other excellent teams in the Yankees and the Tampa Bay Rays, there are no guarantees they’ll be one of the teams getting into the postseason if they keep playing like they had been before Sunday night. Devers’ great play with the glove and with the stick were certainly standouts from this ballgame.
With Boston only playing its four AL East rivals and the five teams out of the NL East this season, the Red Sox cannot take any of these games for granted. To be able to go into Yankee Stadium and go toe-to-toe with presumably the best team in the American League, whose star player Judge has hit a homer in five straight games, this is a sign that maybe Boston will get this thing going.
When Devers’ home run lands, can you let us know? We have no idea if it’ll ever come down.