Rafael Devers smashed a two-run home run that broke a seat deep in right field at Fenway Park, while Dominic Smith also contributed with a two-run shot, leading the Boston Red Sox to a 5-4 victory over the Kansas City Royals on Sunday, securing the series win. This win marked the Red Sox’s second consecutive victory after dropping the series opener, showcasing their strong performance in July with a 9-3 record and an impressive 20-8 record since June 12.
The game saw All-Star Devers launching a first-inning slider from Brady Singer with an estimated exit velocity of 114.7 mph, sending the ball a projected 439 feet and causing it to crash into the top of a seat, dislodging the top support. The Red Sox’s first-time All-Star Jarren Duran also made a significant impact, contributing four hits to the team’s victory and helping them maintain their impressive 15-1 record on Sundays.
Pitcher Brayan Bello overcame his struggles at home, delivering a strong performance by pitching 6 1/3 innings, allowing three runs and seven hits. The Red Sox’s closer, Kenley Jansen, secured the win by getting the final six outs, including a two-inning save in the regular season, marking his 19th save of the year. With this victory, the Red Sox head into the All-Star break just 4 ½ games out of first place in the AL East, a surprising position after finishing in the basement three of the last four years.
The Kansas City Royals will have a break this week for the All-Star Game before they host the Chicago White Sox for a 3-game series on Friday. Salvador Perez, Bobby Witt Jr., Luth Lugo, and Cole Ragans will be representing Kansas City at the 2024 All-Star Game.
