CLEVELAND -- During a Red Sox season short of many bright spots, Rafael Devers made major league history Tuesday night, becoming the first player to record six hits and four doubles in MLB's modern era.
"I had no idea obviously," Devers said in Spanish through an interpreter after the game. "I was just trying to go out there and have a good at-bat. That's really all I was thinking about. I just wanted at every turn to try to get on base and try to do that for the team."
Devers started his night with an opposite-field double in the first inning off Indians starter Mike Clevinger. The 22-year old followed up with a third-inning single, a hustle double in the fifth inning, a line-drive double off the left-field wall in the sixth inning, an infield single in the eighth inning and a line drive double in the 10th inning of Boston's 7-6 victory.
"What was even more impressive is that every single ball was a stud missile that he hit," center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. said. "He hit everything hard. There were no cheap hits."
The Red Sox third baseman became the third-youngest player to go 6-for-6 in a game in the modern era, following Jesus Alou in 1964 and Joe Morgan in 1965. Devers, who will be 23 in late October, also became the fifth player in American League history to record six hits, four extra-base hits and three RBIs in a single game, joining Ty Cobb, Jimmie Foxx, Kirby Puckett and Ian Kinsler.
Devers finished the night leading the American League in average (.328) and doubles (43). Along with teammates Mookie Betts and Xander Bogaerts, Devers ranks among the top 10 position players in bWAR at 4.3 WAR.
"He's not only one of the best players on our team, but one of the best players in the league," teammate Chris Sale said. "He's got a chance to be the MVP. That in itself is pretty special."