Watch: Red Sox’ Ceddanne Rafaela hits go-ahead home run in 10th inning vs. Yankees
Rafaela’s 10th home run of the year gave the Red Sox a two-run lead and ultimately a win in extra innings at Yankee Stadium.
Ceddanne Rafaela came up big for the Red Sox in his first game at Yankee Stadium Friday.
The 23-year-old Red Sox center fielder/shortstop put on a fireworks display by hitting a two-run home run in the 10th inning against the Yankees to give Boston a 5-3 lead.
Watch Rafaela’s go-ahead 412-foot homer off of New York’s Tommy Kahnle here:
In a wild sequence, Rafaela’s clutch long ball came just a few minutes after designated hitter Masataka Yoshida tied the game at three runs apiece with a two-run homer of his own with two outs in the ninth. The Red Sox had trailed the entire game prior.
Rafaela took advantage of a fastball over the middle of the plate, taking Kahnle over 400 feet to center field. His home run eventually gave Boston the win after closer Kenley Jansen kept the Yankees at bay in the bottom of the 10th inning.
Once Rafaela realized the ball was gone, he showed plenty of emotions as he rounded the bases. From getting the dugout pumped up by raising his arms and flexing his muscles, “the kid,” as Alex Cora calls him, knew he gave his team one of its best victories of 2024.
Rafaela discussed how good it felt to give the Red Sox a multi-run lead in extras just one day after playing 12 innings against the Marlins in Miami.
“Felt amazing,” Rafaela told NESN’s Jahmai Webster postgame. “Felt amazing to help the team out. Great emotion, great feeling.”
Boston had David Hamilton as its ghost runner on second base to start the 10th, who is arguably Boston’s speediest player. Rafaela told Webster he knew he had to put the ball in play and give Hamilton a chance to score.
“Just move (Hamilton),” he said of his goal entering his at-bat. “Just move him, sticking to my approach … had a good result right there.”
The Red Sox and Rafaela agreed to an 8-year, $50 million contract extension in April. Boston has to be feeling good about their decision to lock up the 23-year-old budding star.
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