Red Sox Outfielders Turn Heads with Spectacular, Miraculous Catch
Boston Red Sox outfielders Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela make a breathtaking catch to rob Kerry Carpenter of a home run.
In a matchup filled with dramatic moments, the Boston Red Sox fell to the Detroit Tigers 6-5 on Wednesday night at Comerica Park. Despite the loss, the game featured a play that will keep baseball fans talking for some time—a rare and spectacular 9-8 putout by the Red Sox outfielders.
With the game tied at 5 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Tigers designated hitter Kerry Carpenter launched a towering fly ball deep to right-center field. Red Sox right fielder Wilyer Abreu sprinted back to the wall, leaping in an effort to rob Carpenter of what seemed a certain go-ahead home run. Abreu managed to get his glove on the ball, but it popped free as he collided with the fence, falling back toward the field rather than over the wall.
What happened next was nothing short of remarkable.
Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela, hustling over to back up Abreu, snared the ricocheting baseball barehanded before deftly securing it in his glove. The quick-thinking play turned a potential home run into an out, as Rafaela triumphantly raised his glove with the ball inside while Abreu celebrated the improbable out with a high five. On the mound, Red Sox reliever Liam Hendriks could only throw his arms up in disbelief at the extraordinary defensive effort.
- The play was officially scored a 9-8 putout—right fielder to center fielder—a sequence seldom seen in Major League Baseball.
- The last recorded instance of such a play occurred in 2003 with the Minnesota Twins, under similarly unusual circumstances.
While the Tigers were denied the lead in the seventh thanks to the Red Sox's defensive heroics, Detroit would not be kept off the scoreboard for long. In the ninth inning, Boston reliever Aroldis Chapman issued a lead-off walk to Andy Ibanez, who promptly stole second base. Tigers manager AJ Hinch called upon pinch-hitter Justyn-Henry Malloy, who delivered with a single to center, plating Ibanez for a second consecutive walk-off win over Boston.
Wednesday’s victory ensured a three-game sweep for the Tigers over the visiting Red Sox. Detroit now looks ahead to their upcoming series against the Toronto Blue Jays, beginning Friday evening at home. Meanwhile, the Red Sox aim to regroup as they prepare to face the Atlanta Braves, also starting Friday night.