June 2nd 2024.
It turned out to be a disappointing day at Fenway Park. The team's offense was quiet, the pitchers lost a 3-0 lead, and the Red Sox ended up with a four-game split against the Detroit Tigers, a team they were expected to beat easily. However, it's worth noting that Boston's star player, who is also the highest-paid player in the league at $313 million, did everything in his power to prevent this outcome.
Rafael Devers had an outstanding performance on Sunday, going 2 for 4 with two RBIs, a walk, a triple, and a game-tying solo home run in the eighth inning. He also made some impressive defensive plays, but unfortunately, it wasn't enough as the Red Sox lost 8-4 in 10 innings. The Tigers scored four runs in the tenth inning, with Andy Ibanez hitting an RBI double, Javier Baez delivering a two-run single, and Carson Kelly adding another RBI double. All four runs were scored against left-hander Cam Booser, and the Red Sox couldn't produce a response in the bottom of the tenth.
" They had some strong at-bats," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora. "We had some favorable matchups, but we also had some tough ones. Our bullpen was one pitch away from getting out of the inning, but unfortunately, Javy put a good swing on the ball and it just kept going."
Despite the disappointing result, Devers played an exceptional game. He seemed to be comfortable on both offense and defense, something we haven't seen in a while. Devers' RBI triple in the third inning was his second triple in five days, and before that, he hadn't hit one since May 18, 2022. His first-inning walk also set up Enmanuel Valdez's RBI single, continuing his trend of improving his walk rate this year to 12%, compared to his career average of 8.3%.
"Controlling the strike zone has been a key factor for him," Cora said before the game. "He's not chasing fastballs like he used to. He also understands his role in the lineup. He knows that there will be situations where he might only get one pitch to hit, and he's humble enough to take a walk. He's in a great place right now."
Cora also praised Devers' defense, which has shown significant improvement this season. Although the advanced metrics may not reflect it, Devers has only committed four errors in his first 49 games. On Sunday, he started a smooth double play and later made an incredible stop and throw from his knees in the ninth inning. Devers is now batting .283 with 11 home runs, 29 RBIs, and a .925 OPS, putting him among the best in the American League.
"He keeps getting better and better," Cora said after the game. "He knows his worth, not just on this team, but in the league. He's one of the best players out there."
Apart from Devers, it was a frustrating day for the Red Sox. Brayan Bello, who was looking to bounce back from his previous underwhelming performance, came close to delivering an outstanding outing but couldn't keep the bases clear. The 25-year-old allowed four runs on eight hits and three walks over 6.1 innings, managing to escape trouble in the first, fifth, and sixth innings before finally giving up a run in the seventh.
Bello's day ended after giving up two singles in the seventh. He was replaced by Justin Slaten, who allowed both inherited runners to score on an RBI double by Wenceel Perez and an RBI groundout by Mark Canha.
"I may not have been as aggressive as I was in the beginning, and that may have been the reason for the baserunners," Bello said through translator Carlos Villoria Benítez. "But overall, I think it was a good outing."
Offensively, the Red Sox started strong but went quiet after the third inning. After hitting two home runs on Saturday, Enmanuel Valdez continued his impressive weekend by hitting an RBI single in the first inning. Jarren Duran added another run in the second with an RBI single, and Devers scored Dominic Smith with a triple in the third.
However, the Tigers shut down the Red Sox's offense, allowing only one hit between the third and seventh innings. By then, the Tigers had taken a 4-3 lead. It wasn't until Devers' game-tying home run in the eighth that the Red Sox showed signs of life. They loaded the bases in the bottom of the ninth but failed to score, sending the game into extra innings.
The ninth inning almost had a feel-good moment of the season. Jamie Westbrook, who has been playing in the minor leagues for 11 seasons, got his first MLB call-up on Sunday. He made his debut in the bottom of the ninth when Cora chose him as a pinch hitter with two outs and the game-winning run at second. It was a high-pressure situation for his first MLB plate appearance, but Westbrook remained composed and drew a walk, giving his team a chance to win.
"It was insane," Westbrook said. "If you're going to get your first at-bat, this is the best time to do it. I was thrown right into the fire, but it was a great experience. The crowd was loud, and I got to a 3-1 count. I had to refocus, but it was awesome. It was everything I dreamed of."
Unfortunately, the Red Sox couldn't complete the storybook ending on Sunday. Before Westbrook's at-bat, outfielder Wilyer Abreu injured his right ankle in a strange accident in the dugout, slipping and falling down the stairs. Westbrook then batted for Abreu in the ninth inning, and according to Cora, Abreu will receive treatment over the next couple of days.
Thankfully, Abreu doesn't seem too concerned about his injury. He wasn't wearing any bandages in the clubhouse and doesn't expect to miss any playing time because of it. "I feel good," Abreu said. "I don't think it's anything serious. I might wrap it up, but I don't think it will keep me out of the game."
The Red Sox will have a day off on Monday before starting a two-game series against the Atlanta Braves at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
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