Anyone who thought Rafael Devers wouldn’t homer against the Red Sox this weekend wasn’t familiar with the slugger’s game.
Likewise for anyone who thought Devers wouldn’t eventually find a Red Sox fastball he could clobber.
Devers’ first home run in a Giants uniform, combined with yet another Red Sox error, proved the difference in his new team’s 3-2 victory over his former ball club.
Brayan Bello was largely effective in his 12th start of the season, striking out six and issuing one walk on 94 pitches (59 strikes). It was his fourth consecutive start of at least six innings, his longest streak since he made seven such starts between June and July ‘23.
“He threw the ball well,” manager Alex Cora told reporters. “Overall, gave us enough. We didn’t make a play behind him. There were some tough pitches on the (Heliot) Ramos at-bat, but we cannot complain.”
Bello allowed three runs on four hits, including a pair of homers by Ramos (solo) and Devers, but his ERA improved from 3.49 to 3.31 because only one of the runs was earned; David Hamilton’s second error in as many games prolonged the bottom of the third and ensured there was a runner on base when Devers went yard. He’s now officially homered against every MLB team.
“This is a guy that, we expect him to be an elite defender,” Cora said of Hamilton. “Yesterday he missed a line drive, today that was a backhand that, usually he’s able to handle it. So we’ll keep working with him.”
As to what’s made Bello so successful this spring, his manager said, “command of the fastball (was) the most important thing. He’s been able to spot it.”
“The cutter is becoming a weapon for him,” Cora continued. “I think he’s been solid, and he looks strong.”
Cora also explained how Bello’s changeup is making a comeback after a rough ’24 season.
“I think command. They talk about certain things mechanically, that he wasn’t able to clear his delivery to create deception, and it’s hard sometimes when your changeup is not good in-between starts, to use it in the next one,” Cora said of the pitch, which was a key weapon in Bello’s arsenal earlier in his career. “So little by little, the pitching group have done an amazing job with him in between starts to get it going, and it feels like we’re getting there.”
The Boston bats did far less against Giants starter Landen Roupp, who yielded just three hits, three walks, was charged with a balk, and struck out seven in six shutout innings.
“We knew going into it he has good stuff, likes to mix different shapes, different pitch types,” said rookie Roman Anthony of Roupp. “I think he executed well today.”
The Boston bullpen turned in yet another strong effort, with newcomer Jorge Alcala and Luis Guerrero contributing a perfect inning apiece. Red Sox relievers have been lights-out of late, combining for 19.2 scoreless innings over their last six games.
After making mincemeat of several San Francisco relievers on Friday night, however, the Red Sox couldn’t manage a baserunner against Randy Rodríguez and Tyler Rogers, who pitched the seventh and eighth, respectively.
The Red Sox ultimately outhit their hosts 6-4, thanks to batters 3-5: Roman Anthony (1-for-2, 2 BB), Trevor Story (3-for-4, 1 R), and Wilyer Abreu (2-for-4, 1 RBI). Boston was without an extra-base hit until the top of the ninth. Facing Camilo Doval in the ninth, they finally threatened. Anthony set the stage with a leadoff double, and Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu followed with back-to-back singles. The latter got Boston on the board at the 11th hour.
“When you’re in a situation like that you’re just trying to do anything to get on and to score and to help the team win,” said Anthony.
When Nate Eaton came in to pinch-run for Abreu, the Giants gifted the Red Sox another run; as Eaton stole second, Story came home on a throwing error by catcher Andrew Knizner.
Marcelo Mayer’s ground-out advanced Eaton to third, but Romy Gonzalez didn’t have his usual pinch-hit magic and grounded out to let the Giants off the hook.
The Red Sox are 40-38 overall, including 8-2 in their last 10 games. Yet they’re also 14-29 when opponents score first, 12-25 when they score less than four runs, 6-20 when they don’t homer, and 1-29 when they trail after the eighth inning. In one-run games, they’re 9-18.
In other words, whatever fight this team has, it’s usually not enough.
The series in San Francisco concludes Sunday at 4:05 p.m. ET.
Originally Published:
