Times are tumultuous for the Red Sox.
But there was reason to celebrate in Boston Monday night. Top prospect Roman Anthony hit his first career home run. It helped spark a 2-0 win for the Red Sox over the Seattle Mariners.
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The win arrived in Boston’s first game since the stunning trade of All-Star slugger Rafael Devers to the San Francisco Giants. Starting pitcher Lucas Giolito was credited with the win after throwing six shutout innings.
Red Sox brass addresses Devers trade before Monday’s game
Boston dealt Devers to the Giants Sunday afternoon, sending the ninth-year Red Sox veteran across the country in a trade that sent shockwaves across MLB. Devers was the last remaining member of Boston’s 2018 World Series championship team and appears to be on pace for his fifth straight All-Star bid amid another standout season at the plate.
If he does make the All-Star game, he’ll do so as a Giant. The trade prompted hard questions for Red Sox executives Craig Breslow and Sam Kennedy prior to Monday’s game.
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Once their media availability was over, it was time to get down to actual baseball. And, for a night at least, baseball for Boston was a success, thanks in part to baseball’s No. 1 prospect.
Anthony took the plate as the No. 3 hitter in the top of the first inning with the bases empty. With a 2-2 count, Mariners starter Logan Gilbert threw a 96 mph fastball to the upper outside corner of the strike zone.
Anthony reached across the plate and pulled a deep fly ball that carried over the right centerfield wall.
The home run was the first of Anthony’s MLB career in his seventh MLB game since Boston called him up for his big-league debut on June 9. It gave the Red Sox a 1-0 lead that they never relinquished.
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The Red Sox had won five straight games since Anthony’s call-up, including a three-game sweep of the New York Yankees before deciding to trade Devers. Monday marked their sixth straight win to improve to 38-36 and further improve their standing in the AL playoff race.
Questions will continue to swirl around why exactly Boston chose to deal Devers as its season was starting to point up. But Red Sox fans can at least look forward to watching Anthony.
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