As the Boston Red Sox stared down the barrel of another potential one-run loss in extra innings, Ceddanne Rafaela was there.
The center fielder twisted a fly ball just around the Pesky Pole to score Abraham Toro from second base and walk off the Los Angeles Angels, 11-9. His 308-foot homer is a unicorn, only out at Fenway Park, but it was enough to stave off a sweep and set the Red Sox in the right direction before their upcoming series against the Yankees.
Rafaela put an exclamation point on a back-and-forth affair that didn't start well for either team. The Angels collected four runs off Lucas Giolito in the first frame, but Boston answered back quickly with five first-inning runs to take a lead. LA followed with three runs in the second inning to reclaim the lead and kick Giolito out of the game early.
The Red Sox tied the game or took a lead three more times, and the Angels responded in the following inning each time until the ninth frame. After a leadoff walk to Mike Trout, Cooper Criswell retired the next three Angels to kill a potential rally before it started. Then, Rafaela finished the job, as he tried to do all series.
Ceddanne Rafaela continues torrid streak at the plate, lifts Red Sox to walk-off win over Angels
The 24-year-old has been on a torrid streak at the plate. His walk-off homer was his third in as many days, and he's slashing .433/.433/.867 with six RBI in his last seven games. Rafaela has gotten hot at just the right time — Boston has a difficult stretch of games coming up, including two series against the Yankees, a bout with the Rays, and a road trip to face the Giants and first-place Mariners on the West Coast.
Hopefully, Rafaela can stay hot against New York to help the Red Sox make up some ground in the American League East. They're closer to last place than they are to third, and series wins against division rivals could seriously cut into their deficit. Luckily, Rafaela has a history of success against the Yankees, with a .297/.318/.578 slash line, .896 OPS and five homers over them in his short career.
Rafaela's recent success could be the beginning of a narrative change about his future with the Red Sox. He's an excellent defender who makes the most improbable plays look easy, but Boston's lineup has been more desperate for length than anything, and he's delivered. Rafaela is still a free swinger who chases too much, but he's cut his strikeout percentage drastically from the 22nd percentile in 2024 to the 61st percentile in 2025. If his offense keeps trending in the right direction, his elite defense and speed on the base paths could make him one of the most versatile players on the Sox's roster.