May 22, 2022; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox center fielder Franchy Cordero (16) runs the bases after hitting a grand slam to end the game against the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park. Mandatory Credit: Brian Fluharty-USA TODAY Sports
Boston Red Sox general manager Chaim Bloom pumped his first with authority after Franchy Cordero’s walk-off grand slam.
Cordero was one of five players acquired in a 2021 trade of Andrew Benintendi to the Kansas City Royals. Does this mean Boston won the trade?
Okay, not so fast — but it is Cordero’s signature moment as a member of the Red Sox thus far.
Despite a blown save by Hansel Robles in the top of the ninth inning and another run allowed by the bullpen in the tenth, Boston was able to overcome that emotional letdown in bottom half of the inning in a big way.
Cordero went deep with the bases loaded to cement a four-game sweep.
The reaction from Bloom — the Red Sox general manager — says it all. The trade finally paid some dividends.
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Red Sox: Does Mariners sweep signal a turnaround?
Boston was in the basement of the AL East not so long ago. Heck, Xander Bogaerts was floated in trade rumors this very week (not unfounded rumors, for what it’s worth). But should the Sox continue to play up to their potential, it will be tough to trade Bogaerts with a straight face this season.
Said turnaround all started with Trevor Story, who finished this series with five home runs and 13 RBIs. If Story, along with the likes of Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and JD Martinez can keep hitting, this Boston lineup can be quite scary at times.
Yet, even with all those big names, it was Cordero who played the role of hero on Sunday.