MLB Notes: Devers Chasing History, Mariners Wild Comeback, Sale's Resurgence, More (2024)

Rafael Devers has a chance to chase history tonight, Chris Sale is having a career resurgence in Atlanta, and the Mariners topped the Yankees in a wild one last night. That and more in today’s MLB Notes.

Rafael Devers Homers His Way into the Red Sox Record Books

On Monday, Rafael Devers made history in Boston’s 5-0 victory over the Tampa Bay Rays, hitting a two-run homer in the top of the fourth inning to set a new Red Sox record with homers in six consecutive games.

His 382-foot opposite-field shot off a 97 mph fastball from Tampa righty Taj Bradley was anything but cheap. Devers’ feat puts him ahead of the five Red Sox players who homered in five straight games— Jimmie Foxx, Ted Williams, Dick Stuart, George Scott, Jose Canseco, and Bobby Dalbec in 2020.

He is also the first player to homer in six straight games since Angels superstar Mike Trout accomplished the feat with seven straight homers late in the 2022 season. Joey Votto (2021) and Paul Goldschmidt (2019) also homered in seven consecutive games, and Devers will aim to join that exclusive group on Tuesday night.

“Of course, I’m very proud to be in that conversation with [Trout] and in that position,” Devers said Monday night in Tampa. “Obviously, we know the type of superstar he is. He’s a future Hall of Famer and a superstar. To be on the same level with him is very nice.”

Devers will face Zack Littell on Tuesday night and is familiar with what the Tampa righty has to offer, having hit a homer off Littell last Thursday with an opposite-field shot into the Monster seats at Fenway Park for his second homer of this current streak.

Christian Yelich Stole Home Plate on Monday!

Stealing home plate is one of the more challenging things to accomplish in baseball, so it’s worth mentioning when it happens. On Monday, Christian Yelich accomplished just that when he stole home in the top of the sixth inning of the Brewers contest with the Miami Marlins. After already stealing second base in the inning, Yelich swiped home plate and a run when Marlins catcher Nick Fortes soft-tossed the baseball back to Marlins pitcher Ryan Weathers.

Chris Sale Continues to Dominate

When I typed that headline, I felt like I was in a time machine, but it’s actually a reality. Chris Sale is dominating right now.

On Monday, Sale helped the Braves snap a four-game losing streak with a dominating performance that helped Atlanta beat the Padres 3-0 in the second game of Monday’s doubleheader at Truist Park. Sale held the Padres scoreless on five hits while striking out nine and walking none in seven innings of work. His performance extended his scoreless inning streak to 20 innings.

Sale owns a 2.25 ERA in his first nine starts with the Braves. He’s thrown at least seven innings in five of his last seven starts and is turning back the clock on his career with Atlanta this season. After last night’s victory, Sale attributed his time in Atlanta to their clubhouse.

“I can’t stress enough what this clubhouse is like,” Sale said. “The energy that’s in there, the guys and what everyone brings to the table and just how laid back it is, it’s a lot of fun. It’s like going to play college summer baseball, just with brighter lights. Our staff allows us to be who we are, and it brings out the best in everybody.”

That could be considered good teammate speak, or we could consider that Reynaldo Lopez—who had another terrific start in game one of yesterday’s doubleheader—is also experiencing a career resurgence with the Braves this season.

Mariners Top Yanks in Comeback Effort

Seattle made an impressive comeback to secure a thrilling 5-4 victory on Monday night at Yankee Stadium, scoring four runs in the top of the ninth inning to surprise the American League-leading Yankees and end their seven-game win streak.

Julio Rodríguez reached base with a swinging bunt, Cal Raleigh drew a walk, and Luke Raley got an infield single, resulting in a run due to a throwing error by Gleyber Torres that went into the home dugout. Mitch Haniger then hit an RBI single, Dylan Moore received a walk to load the bases after falling into an 0-2 count, and Dominic Canzone hit a sac fly to right field that tied the game.

Ty France added to the lead with a single into the right-field gap, and J.P. Crawford flew out. This set the stage for Andrés Muñoz, who secured his ninth save with a 100.8 mph fastball for a called strike three to Aaron Judge, his fastest pitch of the year.

“We’ve had a lot of crazy wins here over the last seven, eight, nine years that I’ve been here, but I don’t know of anything wilder than that one,” Mariners manager Scott Servais said. “Tremendous effort by our guys just hanging in there. Don’t quit. You cannot quit in this game.”

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