The Boston Red Sox stockpiled 20 strikeouts to match an all-time franchise record during Friday night’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Still, the aching extra-inning series opener was accompanied by an even greater defeat: the loss of Rafael Devers for the remaining eight games of the season.
Devers started at third base and went 1-for-4 at the plate with two strikeouts before being substituted by fellow infielder Vaughn Grissom in the top of the 11th inning. It was clear, both by Devers’ swings in the batter’s box and throws to first base — one of which required 6-foot-4 Triston Casas to fully extend to prevent an error — that Boston’s slugger wasn’t playing at 100%. Devers dealt with a lingering right shoulder injury but still hasn’t thrown in the towel with the club yet to officially reach elimination from playoff contention in the American League.
“No, he’s not (OK),” Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “You saw him throwing today, (the shoulder) was bothering him. Actually, when he hit inside, he felt it. So he’s gonna get an MRI tomorrow, see where we’re at and probably, this is it for him.”
Boston did a number on its paper-thin playoff hopes, squandering another opportunity to slice into the wild-card gap that’s anchored the Red Sox throughout their brutal 23-35 second-half stretch. By failing to walk-off Minnesota in the bottom of the ninth, 10th and 11th innings, Boston dropped to a daunting five games back while the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners trail the Twins by one and two games, respectively. Long story, short, it would take a miraculous stretch just a millisecond before the buzzer sounds for Boston to sneak in.
Devers, who played 138 games this season, if done, finishes 2024 slashing .272/.354/.516 with 28 home runs, 34 doubles and a team-leading 83 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the third time in the 27-year-old’s eight-year career but did put a close to Boston’s (potentially) third consecutive postseason miss on a rough note. Devers hit .188 in September (17 games), going 12-for-64 with 21 strikeouts, including 11 strikeouts in his last four games with Boston.
“It’s tough. I’m super proud of him,” Red Sox teammate Trevor Story told reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “I’m proud to call him my teammate. He’s the face of the franchise and comes out here and posts, man. He’s banged up. He’s been banged up for a long time and I think everyone knows that. But he’s out here playing, man. He wants to win. He set the tone for everyone to follow — even if you’re banged up, you can still play.”
