Rafael Devers becomes youngest Red Sox player to hit postseason home run
The home run in the third inning of Sunday’s game sparked a turnaround for Boston. It also proved to be much more than a personal achievement for the Dominican native.
Rafael Devers didn’t just start a rally that essentially turned into a rout. He made history in just his third career postseason game.
The rookie third baseman smacked an 0-1 slider from Houston’s Francisco Liriano to put Boston ahead 4-3 in the bottom of the third. The bomb sparked a momentum change in the potential elimination game, as the Red Sox scored seven eight unanswered runs in a 10-3 victory to keep the series alive.
Boston’s well-known greats registered clutch moments during their stints at Fenway, and Devers’ hit will be added.
Devers’ long shot was more than just a personal milestone. He also became the youngest Red Sox player ever to homer in a postseason game at 20 years and 349 days old. The next person on the list broke the record a year ago – teammate Andrew Benintendi hit a homer off Trevor Bauer at 22 years and 90 days.
Manager John Farrell surprised many fans Friday when he started Deven Marrero in place of Devers in a critical Game 2. The Boston fanatics had enough of Marrero and his inconsistency in the regular season. If Devers never made his way to the big leagues, the team’s lingering question at the hot corner may have never been answered.
Essentially, Devers’ promotion was a key part to the Red Sox’s run to October.
The highly touted recruit was also one of the most impressive rookie third basemen in the league. In just 58 games, he boasted a .284 average with 10 home runs and 30 RBI. He also contributed 14 doubles to his resume.
More from Call to the Pen
- Philadelphia Phillies, ready for a stretch run, bomb St. Louis Cardinals
- Philadelphia Phillies: The 4 players on the franchise’s Mount Rushmore
- Boston Red Sox fans should be upset over Mookie Betts’ comment
- Analyzing the Boston Red Sox trade for Dave Henderson and Spike Owen
- 2023 MLB postseason likely to have a strange look without Yankees, Red Sox, Cardinals
Not many players recorded their first postseason home run at a younger age. Four players accomplished this feat, which include Andruw Jones, Miguel Cabrera, Bryce Harper and Manny Machado. Devers just joined an elite list to say the least.
The young third baseman has an opportunity to continue delivering clutch hits for the team heading forward. He struggled in Game 1, whiffing twice against a formidable Astros’ pitching squad. But he did tally an RBI. He struck out once more in Game 2 after subbing in for Marrero.
Nevertheless, his moonshot in Game 3 made up for his poor play in his first two games. He added an RBI single late in the game and a walk.
Next: Sox could target J.D. Martinez this winter
Devers and the rest of his club will attempt to send the series to a fifth game Monday. Farrell sends last year’s American League Cy Young winner Rick Porcello to face off against Charlie Morton, one of the league’s biggest surprises on the bump this year.
Porcello didn’t provide an encore to his career year last season, pitching to a 4.65 ERA with an 11-17 record. Morton was much more effective, going 14-7 with a 3.62 ERA.