It has been a difficult season for the Boston Red Sox, as their undermanned roster has seen them fall far behind the New York Yankees and the Baltimore Orioles in the American League East. Based on the talent level of these teams, that's just what was expected of the Red Sox this year. But as the team approaches the 50-game mark, there have been a few highlights. That includes third baseman Rafael Devers, who tied a team record Sunday when he belted a home run in his fifth straight game.
Devers - again! He’s tied the Red Sox record for consecutive games with a homer (5). Devers 2024 (5/15-19) Dalbec 2020 (9/5-10) Canseco 1995 (8/21-25) Scott 1977 (6/14-19) Stuart 1963 (6/11-16) Ted Williams 1957 (7/12-16) Foxx 1940 (8/13-17) @wbz
The home run came in an 11-3 victory over the St. Louis Cardinals in the final game of a three-game series at Busch Stadium. The long ball allowed Devers to tie a record held by the legendary Ted Williams and five other Red Sox players.
Devers hit his first two home runs in the streak against the Tampa Bay Rays and then followed with home runs in all three games against the Cardinals. Sunday's home run was the only one that came in a Red Sox victory.
Devers will attempt to break the team record Monday when the Red Sox go to Tampa. The two teams will begin a three-game series before the Red Sox return to Fenway for a three game-series Friday against the Milwaukee Brewers.
Williams and five others had home run streaks for the Red Sox
Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx was the first Red Sox player to homer in five straight games, and he accomplished the feat in 1940. Williams joined him during the 1957 season when he was 39 years old.
Dick Stuart also accomplished the feat in 1963. He was a slugger known as much for his brutal fielding as he was for his ability to hit the long ball. The record was joined by George “Boomer” Scott, a powerful slugger and a sharp-fielding first baseman, in 1977.
Jose Canseco is also in that group after he homered in five straight games in 1995. The most unlikely name on the list is Bobby Dalbec, who accomplished the feat in 2020.
The Red Sox had lost 8 of 11 games before registering an 11-3 triumph over the Cardinals. Devers drove in two runs with his home run and he also scored another run in the game. Devers has hit nine home runs so far this season.
In addition to the Rafael Devers home run, the Red Sox also received blasts from Tyler O'Neill and David Hamilton. O'Neill is in his first season with the Red Sox and the former Cardinal leads Boston with 11 home runs. Hamilton has hit two home runs so far this season.
Connor Wong, Garrett Cooper and Wilyer Abreu all added two hits for the Red Sox, while Dominic Smith added three runs batted in.
In addition to the rare hitting display by the Red Sox, Nick Pivetta was brilliant on the mound. He struck out eight Cardinals hitters in 6.0 innings and gave up just one hit and one earned run. He did not walk a batter.
