Red Sox Notes: How Rafael Devers, Jarren Duran Felt After Walk-Off Win
BOSTON — The Red Sox’s game Saturday night against the Atlanta Braves began the same way the Friday night’s did.
Boston found itself trailing Atlanta in the first inning, with the Braves hitting back-to-back home runs off Lucas Giolito to open up a 3-0 lead.
The second game, however, had a much better ending after Rafael Devers launched his first-ever walk-off home run in the bottom of the ninth to cap off the Red Sox’s come-from-behind 7-6 victory.
“It’s very good. Obviously, very excited,” Devers said through team translator Carlos Villoria-Benítez after securing the Boston win. “Because, at the top of the game, for us to be able to come back to win this type of game means a lot. And also to get it going with the team and to get everyone excited.”
Devers was at the plate in the bottom of the eighth inning after Jarren Duran hit a two-run single to right field to tie the game 6-6. With two out, Duran got caught stealing second which sent Devers back to the dugout with time to prepare to face Pierce Johnson in the next half inning.
“I went down the tunnel to do my routine,” Devers explained. “I saw how he pitched to Duran. I know that his good pitch is a slider and I was ready for it.
More REd Sox
“It’s very exciting to see a game like this. Everybody’s competing every at-bat and to be able to come back and win a game like this is obviously a huge boost for our confidence, and I feel like it’s very good for us.”
Despite ending Boston’s momentum in the eighth when he was caught stealing, Duran came up clutch on more than one occasion in the win.
The speedy outfielder went 2-for-5 from the plate with four RBI, including a two-run home run in the third.
“We’ve been pretty resilient all year having games like that, but coming up short,” Duran said. “But today, was our night, and it’s always a good feeling to have one of those nights.
“The game tying two run single was more important than the homers, so I was more ecstatic about that one.”
Not only did Duran’s bat have an impact, he kept the game within striking distance by throwing Alex Verdugo out at home in the sixth.
“I was just trying to utilize that one hop. I mean, it was a tough one, going to my backhand side and making a good throw,” Duran said. “It was a good spot to be able to back up my pitchers, which is what I always want to do.”
Here are more notes from Saturday’s Red Sox-Braves game:
— Duran was not in the dugout when Devers hit his first-career walk-off bomb to secure the victory.
“I was actually going pee, and then I heard people going crazy,” Duran explained with a laugh. “So I had to wash my hands and run back up there and grab the Wally head for him.
“Maybe everytime he comes up in a situation like that, I might have to go down to the bathroom and bring some good luck.”
The Wally head never made it onto Devers, Duran ended up wearing it in the celebration instead.
— Boston snapped its four-game losing skid and earned its fourth walk-off win of the season. Trailing by five runs in the third inning, it was the largest come-from-behind victory this season.
— The Red Sox improved to 12-10 at home and 5-12 in one-run games, snapping their streak of eight consecutive losses in games decided by a single run.
— Boston will aim to win the series in the finale against Atlanta on Sunday afternoon. First pitch from Fenway Park is scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET, and you can catch all the action on NESN following an hour of pregame coverage.