Image Source: AP Photo
In a thrilling game at Fenway Park on Sunday, Boston Red Sox star Rafael Devers hit a monumental home run that not only contributed to the team’s victory but also broke a seat in the right field stands. The Red Sox secured a 5-4 win against the Kansas City Royals, winning the series and continuing their impressive July performance.
The Home Run
Devers, an All-Star, launched a two-run homer in the first inning off Royals’ pitcher Brady Singer. The ball had an estimated exit velocity of 114.7 mph and traveled a projected 439 feet. Red Sox stat Rafael Devers hit crashed into the top of a seat in right field, causing significant damage. The Red Sox shared a picture of the broken seat on their social media, humorously referring to it as a “Fenway Facilities Incident Report.”
Game Highlights
The game saw several notable performances:
- Adam Frazier started the game with a home run into the Royals’ bullpen.
- Royals’ Salvador Perez, a nine-time All-Star, added a solo shot into the Green Monster seats.
- Red Sox’s Jarren Duran, making his first All-Star appearance, had an outstanding game with four hits.
Pitching Performances
Red Sox pitcher Brayan Bello improved his home game record by going 6⅓ innings, allowing three runs and seven hits, despite previously struggling at Fenway with a 6.55 ERA in his last seven starts. Kenley Jansen secured the final six outs, achieving his 19th save of the season and the 439th of his career. Despite giving up a run in the ninth, Jansen managed to close the game by getting Nick Loftin to ground out with a runner on second.
Series Outcome and Standings
With this victory, the Red Sox improved their July record to a league-best 9-3 and their overall record to 20-8 since June 12. They also boast a major league-best 15-1 record on Sundays. As they head into the All-Star break, the Red Sox are just 4½ games out of first place in the AL East, a remarkable turnaround after finishing in the division’s basement three of the last four years.
The Royals, on the other hand, go into the break with 52 victories, three short of their all-time best before the All-Star Game, set by the 1973 team.
