The Boston Red Sox unleashed an offensive onslaught on Saturday, crushing the Chicago Cubs 17-0 at Fenway Park. Ceddanne Rafaela emerged as the star of the show, driving in seven runs with a homer and a bases-loaded double.
Rafaela, playing shortstop and batting ninth, went 4-for-4, while Masataka Yoshida made a strong return from injury with a 4-for-5 performance. Bobby Dalbec, who entered the game with a meager .093 batting average, contributed two hits, three RBIs, and two runs scored.
The Red Sox established single-game season bests at home with 17 runs and 21 hits. They snapped a two-game skid and improved to 5-8 at Fenway Park this season.
Tyler O’Neill launched a solo homer in the first inning to give Boston an early lead. Rafaela’s sacrifice fly in the fourth extended the advantage to 3-0. The Red Sox then exploded for six runs in the fifth, highlighted by Rafaela’s bases-loaded double.
Wilyer Abreu became the first Red Sox rookie to record RBIs in eight consecutive games with a single that scored O’Neill.
Josh Winckowski started for Boston and worked three scoreless innings before handing the ball to the bullpen. Justin Slaton, one of four relievers used, pitched two scoreless innings, striking out two.
The Cubs managed just four hits and were forced to use two position players, Matt Mervis and Patrick Wisdom, to record three outs in the eighth inning.
