Devers Homers as Giants Defeat Red Sox

SAN FRANCISCO: In a Saturday rematch at Oracle Park, Rafael Devers hit his first home run for his new team, the San Francisco Giants, against his former team, the Boston Red Sox, six days after being traded. The Giants secured a 3-2 victory.

Devers had a slow start with the Giants, batting .272 in 73 games for the Red Sox, and recording 3 hits in 16 at-bats in San Francisco. Manager Bob Melvin then shifted the slugger from third to second in the batting order for his fifth game.

The adjustment proved effective, as it moved Heliot Ramos, the club’s leading returning home run hitter, to the No. 3 spot, where he homered in the first inning.

Two innings later, Devers launched his 16th home run of the season, a two-run shot to straight-away left field, boosting San Francisco to a 3-0 advantage in the third.

Melvin expressed satisfaction with Devers’s performance following the successful lineup change.

Melvin’s Remarks

“That’s fairly typical of him – allowing the pitch to travel, making late contact, and directing it to left field. He frequently did that in Boston, and this park is conducive to lefties as well,” Melvin noted.

“You get one (homer),” he said, “and now you can settle in and do your thing.”

Camilo Doval allowed two runs on three hits in the ninth inning, securing his 12th save in 15 opportunities.

Since the trade, the Red Sox have a 3-2 record. A victory on Sunday would give them their second consecutive 2-1 series win as they commence a nine-game road trip in the West.

To achieve this, they must contend with the Giants’ top pitcher, Ray, who began the season with a 7-0 record but has only secured one win in his last four appearances.