Rafael Devers’ 25th HR of the season ties him with Mookie Betts on one franchise record list and puts him within striking distance of Ted Williams on another
Rafael Devers’ 25th home run of the season was absolutely loaded.
And not just because it gave the Boston Red Sox a slightly more comfortable 3-0 lead against the New York Yankees after a gut-wrenching, Andrew Benintendi-filled loss the night before.
His 19th career home run – the most he’s hit against any other team by a margin of three – put him the record books with Mookie Betts and within striking distance of Ted Williams.
More like TaillOWNED pic.twitter.com/IlN2D9Lrrt
— BoSox Injection (@BoSoxInjection) August 15, 2022
The home run also fell on the anniversary of another epic Devers blast, the first he ever hit off a Yankee pitcher. Can you believe it’s been five years?
Aroldis Chapman just found out that you can't sneak 103 by Rafael Devers... pic.twitter.com/F5AWicIs9k
— Baseball America (@BaseballAmerica) August 14, 2017
Devers is now officially one home run away from tying a franchise legend. According to J.P. Long of Red Sox media relations, Devers has a chance to match Williams’ 20 homers hit against the Evil Empire before turning 25, the most by any Sox player. In fitting Rivalry form, Devers also surpassed Babe Ruth on that list earlier this season.
Devers’ homer also clocked in as the 320th extra-base hit of his career, tying him with Betts for the most by a player in franchise history before turning 26. Throughout this season, he’s surpassed franchise legends Tony C (303), Bobby Doerr (311), and Williams (314). It’s a brutal reminder of what the Sox gave up. As such, it should motivate them not to repeat their mistake.
In other words, pay the man.
Andrew Benintendi’s diving catch is brutal deja vu for Red Sox fans
On Saturday night at Fenway, Andrew Benintendi recreated his heroic diving catch from the 2018 ALCS. Only this time, he was wearing a Yankees uniform.