Bill Koch

Saturday

Sep 19, 2020 at 6:56 PM


BOSTON --- His 10-game hitting streak came to an end Friday night, but Rafael Devers carried another one with him into Saturday’s contest against the Yankees.


Devers has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games. His 0-for-5 performance in a 6-5, 12-inning loss included a walk. The Red Sox third baseman is slashing a sizzling .408/.468/.789 during that stretch with 29 hits, seven walks, seven home runs and 20 RBI.


"I’m always trying to get better every [...]

BOSTON --- His 10-game hitting streak came to an end Friday night, but Rafael Devers carried another one with him into Saturday’s contest against the Yankees.


Devers has reached base safely in 17 consecutive games. His 0-for-5 performance in a 6-5, 12-inning loss included a walk. The Red Sox third baseman is slashing a sizzling .408/.468/.789 during that stretch with 29 hits, seven walks, seven home runs and 20 RBI.


"I’m always trying to get better every single day," Devers said through translator Bryan Almonte. "At the beginning of the year it didn’t go so well for me and I was able to right the ship. As I’ve always told you guys, that’s just a part of baseball."


Devers carried just a .167 average and .564 OPS through 16 games. Since then he’s exploded with a .338 average and a 1.013 OPS. His final numbers in 2019 included 29 home runs and 42 doubles from May 20 through the end of the season.


"I knew what I really needed to work on was my timing, because I really didn’t feel right at the plate," Devers said. "Once I got that down, that’s why I’ve been able to play as well as I have now."


bkoch@providencejournal.com


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