Ceddanne Rafaela delivered his first career grand slam in the sixth inning against the Athletics, turning a difficult night into a Red Sox surge.
Rafaela said he initially thought the ball was a popup — a detail that captures just how unlikely the moment felt.
The rally began when Connor Wong doubled into the left-field corner to lead off the sixth, setting the stage for Rafaela's home run.
Payton Tolle had a mixed outing on the mound. Tyler Soderstrom led off the bottom of the first inning with a solo home run off Tolle, and Tolle was pulled during the sixth. His animated reaction to Rafaela's grand slam reflected the team's intensity during the comeback.
Rafaela has contributed elsewhere this season. On May 16, 2026, he made a running grab in center field on Michael Harris II's line drive. He also had a clutch hit on April 27, 2026. Those performances, along with Tolle's, placed both players in the Red Sox Top 5 for that week.
Tolle recorded an 11-strikeout game against the Yankees on April 27, 2026.
