Rafael Devers (Finally) Breaks Out Of Slump In Red Sox Win Vs Orioles
“We all needed that one.”
That was what Red Sox manager Alex Cora told reporters in Baltimore after Rafael Devers connected for his first hit this season in Boston’s 3-0 win over the Orioles on Wednesday.
Devers had entered Boston’s game against the Orioles in an 0-for-19 slump with 15 strikeouts in the Red Sox’s first five games of the season. The three-time All-Star went 2-for-4, lacing an RBI double to right field in the top of the fifth inning to bust out of his rough patch.
“I always felt comfortable,” Devers told reporters through Red Sox translator Carlos Villoria-Benítez, as seen on NESN’s postgame coverage. “I never pressured myself or anything like that. Obviously, things weren’t going my way, and things were bigger than they really were, so for me, it was just to stay simple. I know the type of hitter that I am, and everything was going to be normal sooner rather than later.”
Cora knew Devers would snap out of his funk at the plate, despite striking out three or more times in four of the six Red Sox games to begin the season.
“The at-bats are getting better,” he said. “He walked twice the other day. The foul ball he hit — that one caught my attention. He put some good swings on it. Got a breaking ball in the zone, put a good swing, and then the line drive we’ve been looking for in five days. … Hit it hard, and did an outstanding job.”
The Red Sox faithful at Camden Yards gave Devers a standing ovation after his double scored Ceddanne Rafaela to extend Boston’s lead to 2-0.
“I enjoy it a lot,” Devers said. “It makes me happy, seeing that reaction, because that makes me see that they’re paying attention to my at-bat and they’re supporting me. And it makes me feel very, very happy about that.”
Devers not only got his first hit and drove in his first run five games into the season. But he also got his second hit with a seventh-inning single.