Watch: Marcelo Mayer hits first career home run in 9-6 Red Sox loss
The Red Sox rookie smacked a 410-foot solo homer to right-center field in front of 46,783 fans in the Bronx.
Marcelo Mayer’s first MLB home run occurred during a forgettable game at Yankee Stadium Friday night.
The Red Sox rookie smacked a 410-foot solo homer to right-center field in front of 46,783 fans in the Bronx, a moment that should have been visibly thrilling for Mayer and his teammates.
Except, the 22-year-old’s first long ball cut the Yankees’ lead from 7-0 to 7-1 in the fifth inning. Mayer’s teammates were happy for him, high-fiving him as he donned the celebratory Wally the Green Monster helmet for the first time, but the celebration was subdued due to the score.
“It was a good feeling,” Mayer told reporters after the game. “Obviously it kind of sucks when you’re losing, but it’s definitely a moment I’ll remember for the rest of my life.”
He also said he feels like he’s improving at the plate 10 games into his MLB career.
“I think I just did a better job today of being on time,” Mayer said. “I felt really good my first at-bat and then got something good to hit my second at-bat.”
Fortunately for Mayer, he was able to retrieve his home run ball from the Yankees fan who caught it. After the game, he exchanged a signed bat for the ball and took pictures together.
The infielder’s milestone came after starting pitcher Walker Buehler tossed a dismal two innings of work before getting pulled. Buehler allowed seven hits and runs apiece (five earned runs), and two walks.
Two of those hits were home runs: a three-run blast by Jazz Chisholm Jr. and a two-run shot by Anthony Volpe, each coming in the first inning.
Before Buehler knew it, his team was down 7-0, and he was out of the game after throwing 67 pitches and recording just six outs.
Boston did string together a few runs throughout the rest of the game, five more to be exact, but it wasn’t enough to take a lead.
In the sixth inning, manager Alex Cora opted to pinch-hit Romy Gonzalez in place of Mayer, one inning after his home run. Cora explained that he was trying to balance coming back from a deficit and getting Mayer settled into the big leagues.
“We needed to pinch-hit there,” he said. “That’s a balance between developing the player and winning the game. It felt right there to pinch-hit for (Mayer). Like I told him, at one point — I don’t know if it’s gonna be this season or one point in his career — we’re not gonna pinch hit for him. I made sure to let him know that, because he’s very important for what we’re trying to accomplish. He’s a part of the future, he’s a good player.”
Meanwhile, at the Triple-A level, the Worcester Red Sox’ X account shared a video of baseball’s No. 1 prospect, Roman Anthony, watching a clip of Mayer’s Friday home run from the Polar Park dugout with a fireworks show occurring in front of him.
It only feels like a matter of time before Anthony joins Mayer and co. in Boston.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com