BOSTON -- The return of erstwhile Red Sox star Rafael Devers led to plenty of conflicting emotions around Fenway Park.
But when Willson Contreras, the team’s current slugger, got all of one, the revved-up Friday night crowd of 37,007 erupted with a universal feeling of joy.
This moonshot -- the signature moment as the Red Sox downed the Giants, 6-4 -- didn’t leave anyone at the ballpark in suspense.
Before the baseball had even finished its flight way over the Green Monster and to some destination on or near Lansdowne Street, Contreras raised his arms in triumph and dropped his bat dramatically, celebrating the loudest hit of the night (exit velocity of 116 mph).
The spirited first baseman then shouted joyfully to his teammates in the dugout as he started his trot around the bases, celebrating a three-run homer off Logan Webb that gave the Red Sox the spark they needed.
It was No. 26 on the season for Contreras, coming just one inning before Devers mashed his 26th into the bleachers in center.
The blast by Contreras sparked a five-run rally off normally trusty San Francisco righty Logan Webb in the bottom of the third inning, forcing the Giants to go deep into their bullpen.
Here were some other takeaways on a night the Red Sox improved to 69-59.
Gray bends, doesn’t break, wins sweet 16
There were signs early on that Red Sox ace Sonny Gray didn’t have his best stuff, as he missed spots he usually hits on the edge of the strike zone. He walked two in a third inning in which the Giants loaded the bases. Gray was fortunate to escape on an Osleivis Basabe flyout that Ceddanne Rafaela corralled in front of the wall in center. And after that five-run frame by the Sox in the third, Gray gave three runs back in the fourth on back-to-back homers by Drew Gilbert (two-run shot) and Devers.
But he put up two zeros after that, and the performance was good enough for the veteran righty to run his record to 16-3 on the season.
Miller spotless against former mates
Less than three weeks ago, lefty reliever Erik Miller was still with the Giants. But Boston’s trade acquisition continues to thrive for his new team. Facing his former mates, Miller turned in a dominant top of the seventh, striking out two in a 1-2-3 frame. Miller hasn’t allowed an earned run in his first eight outings with Boston.
Abreu triple provides insurance
With the Red Sox short in the bullpen these days with two high-leverage relievers on the 15-day injured list in Garrett Whitlock and Justin Slaten while another key reliever in Tyron Guerrero was unavailable, a 5-4 lead through five felt tight. Wilyer Abreu provided some insurance with an RBI triple to right in the sixth that clanged off the glove of right fielder Jung Hoo Lee, who initially took a couple of steps in. Abreu perhaps created some indecision with his 107 mph missile that had an expected batting average of .620.