"Jackson Merrill and Xander Bogaerts did it better" - Fans let their feelings out after Red Sox duo's stunning HR "robbery" of Kerry Carpenter
Boston Red Sox's outfield duo Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela produced a comical yet amazing play on Wednesday night against the Detroit Tigers. The pair robbed a home run off Kerry Carpenter, albeit in an unusual manner.
In the bottom of the seventh, Carpenter smashed a ball so hard that it almost made it over the right-center field wall. However, it bounced off Abreu's glove, which the right fielder mishandled. Then came Rafaela to complete the catch and prevent a go-ahead home run.
The unusual sequence spawned different reactions from MLB fans.
"Who’s never seen that? Jackson Merrill and Bogaerts did it BETTER," a fan stated.
"Forget it's a kids game sometimes," one fan shared.
"Boys will be boys," one fan noted.
The play was compared to the catch made by Jackson Merrill after Xander Bogaerts fumbled the ball in a game against the Washington Nationals on July 25, 2024.
Although it seemed like a backyard play, the Red Sox duo's catch still impressed some fans.
"What type of alley oop robbery is this," a fan questioned.
"Tag team robbing a go ahead home run is diabolical," one fan pointed out.
"First 9-8 putout ever?" One fan asked.
Although the catch preserved the 5-5 tie, it was ultimately in vain as Boston was edged out by Detroit, 6-5.
Red Sox swept by Tigers on the road
In spite of the highlight catch in the seventh inning, the Boston Red Sox ultimately fell short in the series closer to the Detroit Tigers. As a result, the visitors got swept by the Tigers in their three-game series in the Motor City.
The see-saw battle saw the two teams exchange the lead from the get-go. Rob Refsnyder brought home Rafael Devers in the first with a sacrifice fly. Trey Sweeney then pulled one back for the Tigers in the second with an RBI single.
Alex Bregman gave the Red Sox the lead with a solo home run, his 11th of the season. Dillon Dingler ground out, then drove in Colt Keith as Detroit tied the score at 2-2.
In the bottom of the sixth, Riley Greene smashed his 10th home run of the year, followed by Sweeney's sac fly to push the Tigers' lead to three. In the next frame, Rafaela, Jarren Duran, and Rafael Devers all pitched in to once again tie the contest.
However, it was all for naught as Justyn-Henry Malloy walked off the game with a single that drove in Andy Ibañez for the Tigers' successful sweep of the visiting Red Sox.