The Boston Red Sox (25-20) traveled to California for a rematch. This Friday (19), the team faced the San Diego Padres (20-25) of Xander Bogaerts and applied a “reverse law of the old”, winning the match by a quiet 6-1 on the outside.

Bogaerts played ten years for Boston, winning the World Series twice and forming a historic duo with Rafael Devers. And in the end, the one who shone in yesterday’s match was precisely his eternal companion. Devers was the highlight of the night with two homers.

Bogaerts, on the other hand, was at bat four times and got no hits, adding one strikeout.

In the pitching duel, James Paxton performed well for the Red Sox and was credited with the victory (V, 1-0). In six innings, the Canadian allowed only five hits (including an HR), two walks, with one earned run and five strikeouts in total. It was only Paxton’s second game of the season, returning from Tommy John surgery that sidelined him for more than two years.

Also of note was reliever Josh Winckowski, who took over for Boston the last three innings and walked only one, still having one stoppage.

On the side of the Padres, the opener was Blake Snell (D, 1-6), who is still in a bad phase. Like Paxton, he allowed five hits – including Devers’ two home runs – and two walks, but in just four innings, with six runs to his name. It was also the same five strikeouts.

The game in San Diego was decided quickly, in just three innings. Rafael Devers opened the job with a home run in the second game.

Late night game but Raffy is awake! pic.twitter.com/Y6nmjjCo8G

—Red Sox (@RedSox) May 20, 2023

In the next inning, Rob Refsnyder hit a double and power-off runs from Connor Wong and Alex Verdugo to make the Red Sox 3-0.

And the knockout blow would come in the third entry. Again him, Devers, isolating the ball over the wall in center field, taking Refsnyder and Justin Turner to make it 6-0.

RAFFY FOR THREE! pic.twitter.com/BquPso8bfQ

—Red Sox (@RedSox) May 20, 2023

In the lower part of the third, the Padres sketched a reaction with an HR solo from Fernando Tatis, his sixth of the season. But that was it. The pitchers controlled the attacks for the next six innings and the score was even 6-1.

With the result, the Boston Red Sox remain in fourth place in the tangled American League East Division, where all teams have had a positive campaign so far. The San Diego Padres are also fourth in the National League West, but with a negative and disappointing campaign so far.

The two teams face off twice this weekend in California, the first of them this Saturday (20), at 11:10 p.m. Brasilia time.

(Photo: Denis Poroy/Getty Images)