Red Sox star Ceddanne Rafaela grabs attention with post after controversial no-catch
Red Sox’s Ceddanne Rafaela took to social media to react to the disputed no-catch call that preceded a five-run Yankees rally in a 16-1 loss.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela made his frustration clear after a disputed defensive play became a major turning point in a 16-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday.
Boston and New York was tied 0-0 in the fifth inning when Jazz Chisholm Jr. sent a 299-foot fly ball toward right-center field. Rafaela adjusted his route, charged toward the ball and dove in an attempt to make the catch. He immediately got up and threw toward first base, believing he had completed the catch and could double off Jose Caballero.
However, first-base umpire Edwin Moscoso ruled that Rafaela had trapped the ball rather than secured it. The decision left the Yankees with runners on first and second and no outs. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy challenged the ruling, but replay review upheld the call because there was not enough evidence to overturn it. Tracy later pointed out that the review upheld rather than confirmed the original decision.
Rafaela, who was convinced he had caught the ball, also addressed the controversy on social media. He posted a zoomed-in image showing the ball in his glove, along with the message, “it’s a man above that saw it.”
The play was followed by a five-run New York rally. Ali Sanchez moved the runners with a sacrifice bunt before Paul Goldschmidt delivered a two-run single. After Cody Bellinger singled, Heliot Ramos launched a three-run home run, giving the Yankees a 5-0 advantage. The homer ended Ramos’ 32-game drought without a home run, dating back to July 20 while he was with the San Francisco Giants.
New York added another run in the sixth and seventh innings before scoring nine times in the eighth. Austin Wells hit two home runs during that inning, while Andruw Monasterio allowed five runs in two-thirds of an inning after taking the mound for Boston.
The 16-1 result was the Red Sox’s largest loss of the season. The Yankees won three of four games in the series and secured the season-series tiebreaker, 7-6. New York moved four games ahead of Boston for the top American League Wild Card position, while the Red Sox remained third in the AL East and five games ahead in the Wild Card race.
Boston has 25 games remaining and will now turn its attention toward securing a postseason berth.
Boston Red Sox outfielder Ceddanne Rafaela made his frustration clear after a disputed defensive play became a major turning point in a 16-1 loss to the New York Yankees on Sunday. Boston and New York was tied 0-0 in the fifth inning when Jazz Chisholm Jr. sent a 299-foot fly ball toward right-center field.