Rafael Devers had no idea how the ball he demolished hit the roof for a mere double
When Rafael Devers made contact with a pitch from Brad Peacock in the top of the second inning on Saturday, he immediately thought it was an easy homer. No one would blame him. The announcers thought it was long gone, as did seemingly everyone on the field.
Houston's home-field advantage had other ideas. The roof at Minute Maid Park was closed on Saturday, and Devers hit the ball at just the right launch angle that it soared high enough to somehow make contact:
Here’s the scratch mark from the Minute Maid Park roof girder on the Rafael Devers double. This is the first time a ball has been MLB authenticated after striking the roof for a hit. pic.twitter.com/nfk1igZWJH
— Mike Acosta (@AstrosTalk) May 25, 2019
Devers' drive caromed off the girder back into fair play, where Aledmys Diaz corraled it to hold him to a double.
Devers was baffled.
Raise the roof. – Rafael Devers pic.twitter.com/WkQDF3K5PS
— MLB (@MLB) May 26, 2019
Devers would undoubtedly agree with that sentiment. That ball probably should have been a homer to put the Red Sox in front.
Instead, Devers ended up getting stranded at second base that inning, and despite a late rally, the Red Sox went on to lose on a walk-off single by Carlos Correa in the bottom of the ninth. Tough break.
Andrew Mearns is a writer for Cut4 whose baseball obsession was born from the shattered dreams of Mike Mussina's perfect game attempt in 2001. He has a startling memory of World Series highlights that barely functions as a party trick.
