Rafael Devers played a central role for the Boston Red Sox punching their ticket to the American League Wild Card game Sunday.
In a come-from-behind 7-5 road win over the Washington Nationals, the 24-year-old third baseman hit two home runs, including the game-winning two-run blast in the top of the ninth inning to help ensure the Red Sox will face the New York Yankees in the winner-take-all American League Wild Card Game on Tuesday at Fenway Park.
By hitting two home runs in the postseason-clinching win, Devers joined some special company in franchise history.
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Devers joined Nomar Garciaparra, who accomplished the same feat 23 seasons ago as the Red Sox clinched the lone wild-card berth in the American League in a 9-6 win over the Orioles in Boston's 158th game of the season.
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Devers, of course, did so in Game No. 162.
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A first-time All-Star in 2021, Devers finished the regular season hitting .279 with 38 home runs, 113 runs batted in -- tied for fourth in MLB -- and an .890 OPS.