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May 27, 2021

Rafael Devers Is On An Extra-Base Hit Binge

Rafael Devers cracked a 434-foot home run and a double off the left field wall last night, helping the Red Sox beat Atlanta 9-5 and continuing his proliferation of extra-base hits over the past four weeks.

Since April 29, 18 of Devers's 24 hits have gone for extra bases: 10 doubles, 8 home runs, and 6 singles.

His last 18 hits have been: 7 doubles, 7 home runs, and 4 singles.

His last 6 hits: 3 doubles, 3 home runs.

Overall this season, the 24-year-old has hit 15 doubles, 14 home runs, and 20 singles.

Devers has also driven in nine runs in the last five games.

Devers's exit velocity – the speed at which the ball comes off his bat – has been one of the highest in the major leagues for the past three seasons.

In 2019, Devers led the majors with 252 "hard hit balls" (95+ mph exit velocity (hits and outs)) and ranked 10th in average EV (92.5). The Red Sox had four players in the top 11 in "hard hit balls": Devers #1, Mookie Betts #3, Xander Bogaerts #6, and J.D. Martinez #11.

In 2020, Devers tied for eighth among major league hitters with an average of 93.0 mph. Fernando Tatis Jr. topped all batters at 95.9, one of only three players with an average EV over 93.7. Devers also had the second-hardest hit ball of the season: 116.7 mph (behind Pete Alonso, 118.4).

This year, Devers's average EV is 92.3, which places him 16th in MLB.

Also last night:

Xander Bogaerts (2-3-0-1, 2 BB) became the first Red Sox cleanup batter with no hits but three runs scored in a game since Tim Naehring (3-3-0-0, 2 BB), August 2, 1996 (11-10 win over Twins).

Nick Pivetta is the first Red Sox starter to begin a season 6-0 since Clay Buchholz began 2013 with a 11-0 (and finished 12-1). #killthewin The Red Sox are now 11-1 in Pivetta's first 12 starts with the team (two in 2020 and 10 this year). It's the first time in franchise history the Red Sox have won 11 of a pitcher's first 12 starts.

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