Rafael Devers 2-run homer ‘impressive’ in 6-4 win over the Mariners
The Red Sox opened the 2024 season with a bang, defeating the Mariners 6-4 at T-Mobile Park in Seattle. The win was Alex Cora’s first on Opening Day, snapping an 0-5 streak.
Rafael Devers picked up where he left off in the spring, crushing his first homer of the season.
In the top of the third inning, the Red Sox finally started scoring after Enmanuel Valdez pulled a single through the right side to open the frame.
Mariners pitcher Luis Castillo quickly got the next two hitters, Connor Wong and Jarren Duran, out before Devers would make some noise.
After falling down in the count 3 and 1, Castillo hung a sinker over the outer part of the plate, and Devers drilled the ball over the wall in left field for a 2-0 lead.
Devers two-run blast went 400 feet with an exit velocity off the bat of 104.4 mph.
“That homer was impressive,” Cora said following the win. “He enjoys playing here too. It’s where he started. His first big-league game was here. It seems like he hits the ball out of the ballpark here through the big part of the field.”
The homer run was the first time Castillo surrendered off his sinker since Aug. 15, 2022.
During the spring, Devers tinkered with his mechanics and hand placement at the plate. He lowered his hands in his stance to help him catch up to higher-velocity pitches.
“I was thinking about that today,” said Devers on the adjustment postgame to reporters. “Like I said before, everybody throws hard. I think that adjustment will help me throughout the season, for sure.”
Cora was impressed with Devers and happy with the results.
“I think he understands who he is in this lineup,” Cora said. “He needs to make adjustments because the league is getting better. The four seamers are at 98, the cutters. You want to be on time. And I’m glad that in spring training it worked; he was able to drive the ball to left center, something he didn’t do last year. That homer tonight was impressive.”
