In a commanding series opener against the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday night, Rafael Devers etched his name into the annals of Boston Red Sox history, setting a new franchise record for consecutive games with a home run.
The pivotal moment came in the fourth inning when the dynamic third baseman launched an opposite-field blast off a 97-mph four-seam fastball from Taj Bradley (1-2), propelling the Red Sox to a 5-0 victory. Devers’ two-run shot to left not only contributed to Boston’s lead but also marked his sixth consecutive game going deep, surpassing the previous record held by Bobby Dalbec in 2020.
On the mound, Boston’s Tanner Houck (4-5) delivered a masterful performance, utilizing 94 pitches over seven innings to stifle the Rays’ offense. The right-hander conceded just two hits while striking out five and issuing one walk, albeit via a defensive alignment violation.
Despite a commendable effort from Tampa Bay’s Bradley, who notched a season-high 10 strikeouts without surrendering a walk, he ultimately yielded five runs on six hits over seven innings.
In other matchups across the league:
Mariners 5, Yankees 4: Ty France’s tiebreaking RBI single spearheaded a dramatic four-run ninth inning as Seattle halted New York’s seven-game winning streak.
Marlins 3, Brewers 2 (10 innings): Josh Bell’s walk-off single in the bottom of the 10th inning secured a hard-fought victory for Miami against Milwaukee.
Padres 6, Braves 5 (Game 1): A resilient San Diego staged a remarkable comeback, capped by Manny Machado’s two-run double in the eighth inning, to overcome a five-run deficit and clinch a win over Atlanta in the first game of a doubleheader.
Blue Jays 9, White Sox 3: Toronto’s offensive prowess, highlighted by Danny Jansen’s two-run homer and Bo Bichette’s stellar performance at the plate, propelled the Blue Jays to a convincing victory over Chicago.
Guardians 3, Mets 1: David Fry’s clutch hitting, coupled with a solid outing from Cleveland starter Ben Lively, secured the Guardians’ fourth consecutive win against the struggling New York Mets.
Braves 3, Padres 0 (Game 2): Chris Sale’s dominant seven shutout innings propelled Atlanta to a split of the doubleheader against San Diego, ending the Braves’ four-game losing streak.
Nationals 12, Twins 3: Jesse Winker and Luis Garcia Jr. led Washington’s offensive onslaught as the Nationals cruised to a resounding victory over Minnesota.
Royals 8, Tigers 3: Michael Massey’s stellar performance at the plate, combined with a potent sixth-inning rally, powered Kansas City to a convincing win over Detroit in the series opener.
Cardinals 6, Orioles 3: Michael Siani’s four-RBI outing fueled St. Louis’ triumph over Baltimore, as the Cardinals continued their winning ways.
Angels 9, Astros 7: Nolan Schanuel and Logan O’Hoppe’s clutch home runs sparked a remarkable comeback for Los Angeles, propelling the Angels to a thrilling win over Houston.
Dodgers 6, Diamondbacks 4: Freddie Freeman’s grand slam headlined a six-run third inning for Los Angeles, securing a victory over Arizona and extending the Dodgers’ winning streak to four games.
With electrifying performances and unexpected twists, Monday’s MLB action showcased the exhilarating unpredictability of America’s favorite pastime.
