‘It’s fun to watch’: Red Sox teammates impressed with Rafael Devers’s home run streak
"He’s been one of the best hitters in the league for a long time."
The Rafael Devers home run streak: While the Red Sox might not be the front page news as a team — Boston, 23-24, sits in fourth place in the American League East — there is one subplot currently commanding attention.
Rafael Devers’s home run streak was stretched to five consecutive games on Sunday in the Red Sox win over the Cardinals.
Devers, 27, hit a towering two-run shot in the sixth inning.
“It’s fun to watch, isn’t it? When that guy gets on a heater, it’s fun to watch,” said outfielder Tyler O’Neil, who is in his first season as Devers’s teammate. “He’s been one of the best hitters in the league for a long time. I’m enjoying watching him in person rather than on TV.”
Nick Pivetta, who has been with Devers since 2020, concurred.
“I’ve been lucky enough to watch Raf for a number of years now,” he told reporters. “He’s a game changer and that’s who he is. And he loves that. So it’s just always nice having him on our team and watching him go about his business. You just always have all the confidence.”
Devers is currently batting .285 with nine home runs in total so far in 2024. His OPS is .938, which would be a career high.
“He’s a good player and he wants to get better,” Boston manager Alex Cora said of Devers. “That’s the important thing.”
As for Devers’s own view of the streak, part of his success might be simply not being aware of it.
“I didn’t even think about who was the record-holder or anything like that, not even on the fourth or the fifth [homer],” said Devers. “That’s not going to change for tomorrow. Hopefully I get four hits instead of home runs.”
“If we’re not winning,” Devers added, “[the home runs] are pointless.”
Trivia: Rafael Devers joined a list of six other Red Sox players in team history who also produced five-game home run streaks. How many of them can you name?
(Answer at the bottom).
Hint: The years in which the players achieved the feat were: 1940, 1957, 1963, 1977, 1995, and 2020.
Scores and schedules:
On Sunday, PWHL Boston won Game 1 of the Walter Cup Finals, 4-3 over PWHL Minnesota (the first finals game in league history). The two teams meet in Game 2 of the best-of-five series on Tuesday at the Tsongas Center at 7 p.m.
The Celtics and Pacers are officially set for the Eastern Conference finals matchup, starting with Game 1 at TD Garden on Tuesday at 8 p.m.
The Red Sox crushed the Cardinals, 11-3 on Sunday. Boston begins a three-game set on the road against the Rays tonight at 6:50 p.m.
Also on Sunday, the New England Free Jacks defeated the San Diego Legion, 24-23, in a Major League Rugby regular season matchup.
More from Boston.com:
- What to know about the Celtics’ Eastern Conference Finals foe in the Pacers
- Aerin Frankel claims Game 1 of Walter Cup Finals for PWHL Boston over PWHL Minnesota
- Devers homers for 5th straight game, tying Red Sox record, in 11-3 win over Cardinals
- Xander Schauffele wins first major at PGA Championship in a thriller at Valhalla
- Joe Mazzulla: Kristaps Porzingis in a ‘great place,’ but won’t share possible return date
- Pacers are back in the Eastern Conference finals, and don’t tell them they can’t win playing fast
- Linus Ullmark is fully aware his future with the Bruins could be in doubt
- Jeremy Swayman discusses future with Bruins
- Jake DeBrusk mulls uncertain future with Bruins and other takeaways from break-up day
- Ranking the Patriots’ 2024 schedule from least to most exciting games
- Tom Brady meets with Drake Maye, shares advice with 2024 NFL draft class
- Man City fans party as Guardiola’s dominant team wins a record fourth straight Premier League title
- Simone Biles shines in return while Gabby Douglas scratches after a shaky start at the U.S. Classic
- 3 takeaways from the Revolution’s 3-0 defeat against the Philadelphia Union
A quick Celtics-Pacers preview: The Inside the NBA crew shared their thoughts on the Eastern Conference finals.
On this day: In 2008, the Celtics defeated the Pistons, 88-79 in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference finals. Kevin Garnett led the way for Boston with 26 points and nine rebounds.
Daily highlight: Moises Caicedo scored one of the goals of the season on the Premier League’s final day, helping Chelsea to a 2-1 win over Bournemouth.
Trivia answer: Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Dick Stuart, George Scott, Jose Canseco, and Bobby Dalbec.
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