BOSTON -- Victor Mesa Jr. is about as big a Lionel Messi fan as you’ll find in baseball. He wore a custom-made Messi jacket to Fenway Park on Sunday morning, and put on an Argentina shirt after the game. Ahead of Argentina’s World Cup Final showdown against Spain on Sunday afternoon, the Rays’ social media accounts posted a video message from Mesa to Messi.
Before he could shift his attention to his soccer-playing idol, though, Mesa provided the Rays’ lone highlight in a 6-1 loss to the Red Sox.
In the second inning of the series finale, Mesa legged out an inside-the-park home run to give Tampa Bay an early lead against Boston right-hander Sonny Gray and the red-hot Red Sox, who came back to win their 13th straight game.
“Always try to give my best for the team. It's a lot of sensations and feelings after that,” Mesa said. “Good that it happened, but obviously mad because of the loss. I feel that we could do better right here.”
Mesa did his part, at least.
He ripped a 108.8 mph line drive to right-center that rattled around Fenway Park’s center-field triangle. He was at second base by the time Ceddanne Rafaela got to the ball, and then Rafaela was slow to pick it up.
Mesa said he had “no idea” where the ball was as soon as he rounded second, putting all his trust in third-base coach Brady Williams and never looking back.
“Whatever he decides is the right move,” Mesa said, “so I just kept going.”
Williams spun his right arm through the air, sending Mesa home. Second baseman Romy Gonzalez made a strong relay throw to catcher Connor Wong, which beat Mesa to the plate, but the ball bounced away from Wong as Mesa made a last-ditch dive home.
“As soon as I hit it, I knew that it was about to be extra bases, and then I [saw] the ball went back. I said, 'OK, let's go three,’” Mesa said. “You've always got to put a little bit on the gas … to get [to] home plate.”
Mesa stood up and pumped his fist, celebrating the Rays’ 25th inside-the-park homer and their first since Jake Mangum legged one out more than a year ago -- on July 2, 2025, against the Athletics at Steinbrenner Field. It was Mesa’s second straight day with a home run, although the one he hit Saturday was of the more traditional over-the-fence variety.
As frustrated as he was by the Rays’ loss, and as upset as he likely was by Argentina's 1-0 defeat to Spain a few hours later, it was a moment Mesa won’t soon forget.
“First time in my life,” he said, proudly. “A lot of things have to happen for that. … It’s not enough. I feel better when we win.”