SEATTLE - It was a dominating night for the Boston Red Sox in all departments. After taking an 8-3 loss in the first game of the series against the Atlanta Braves, Boston took care of business early and limited the visiting team to just one hit all game.
With some key players out due to injury, it was the turn of Rafael Devers to step up and help the Red Sox to another win.
The third baseman went 2-for-3 with three RBI, a walk and two homers. The Dominican started the party early in the second inning, a solo home run put the Red Sox in front and never looked back after that.
The Dominican added a second home run on the night in the seventh inning to mark the first time this season, and the 17th time in his career, that he has had a multi-HR game.
Despite the struggles the Red Sox have had all year, Devers' efforts have maintained the team within reach of a playoff berth. The Dominican ranks among the top three in most offensive categories for the Red Sox this season and leads the team in homers (13).
Just last month, Devers set a club record with six straight games with a homer but even then, he didn't feel at the top of his game. Now, according to him, he is 100% locked in. "I feel good. I've been feeling better each day," Devers said. "I feel like I'm getting to that point where I feel comfortable."
In his last nine games, Devers has only blanked in two and is slashing .364/.432/.788 with three homers and eight RBI.
"Now, he's locked in," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said of Devers. "Staying on fastballs, using the whole field, not chasing pitches, hitting the ball the other way, that's being locked in. Now, he's very dangerous."
With a record of 31-31 and 12.5 games behind the Yankees in the AL East, Boston will travel to Chicago for a four-game series against the also struggling White Sox who have lost 13 games in a row.
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