The Boston Crimson Sox stockpiled 20 strikeouts to match an all-time franchise report throughout Friday night time’s 4-2 loss to the Minnesota Twins at Fenway Park. Nonetheless, the aching extra-inning collection opener was accompanied by a good better defeat: the lack of Rafael Devers for the remaining eight video games of the season.
Devers began at third base and went 1-for-4 on the plate with two strikeouts earlier than being substituted by fellow infielder Vaughn Grissom within the prime of the eleventh inning. It was clear, each by Devers’ swings within the batter’s field and throws to first base — one among which required 6-foot-4 Triston Casas to totally prolong to forestall an error — that Boston’s slugger wasn’t enjoying at 100%. Devers handled a lingering proper shoulder damage however nonetheless hasn’t thrown within the towel with the membership but to formally attain elimination from playoff competition within the American League.
“No, he isn’t (OK),” Crimson Sox supervisor Alex Cora instructed reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame protection. “You noticed him throwing in the present day, (the shoulder) was bothering him. Truly, when he hit inside, he felt it. So he is gonna get an MRI tomorrow, see the place we’re at and doubtless, that is it for him.”
Boston did a quantity on its paper-thin playoff hopes, squandering one other alternative to slice into the wild-card hole that is anchored the Crimson Sox all through their brutal 23-35 second-half stretch. By failing to walk-off Minnesota within the backside of the ninth, tenth and eleventh innings, Boston dropped to a frightening 5 video games again whereas the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners path the Twins by one and two video games, respectively. Lengthy story, brief, it could take a miraculous stretch only a millisecond earlier than the buzzer sounds for Boston to sneak in.
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Devers, who performed 138 video games this season, if completed, finishes 2024 slashing .272/.354/.516 with 28 house runs, 34 doubles and a team-leading 83 RBIs. He was named an All-Star for the third time within the 27-year-old’s eight-year profession however did put a near Boston’s (doubtlessly) third consecutive postseason miss on a tough observe. Devers hit .188 in September (17 video games), going 12-for-64 with 21 strikeouts, together with 11 strikeouts in his final 4 video games with Boston.
“It is robust. I am tremendous happy with him,” Crimson Sox teammate Trevor Story instructed reporters, as seen on NESN’s postgame protection. “I am proud to name him my teammate. He is the face of the franchise and comes out right here and posts, man. He is banged up. He is been banged up for a very long time and I believe everybody is aware of that. However he is out right here enjoying, man. He desires to win. He set the tone for everybody to observe — even in case you’re banged up, you may nonetheless play.”
