COMMENTARY
Sunday’s first-half finale began with Jarren Duran turning a run-of-the-mill 12 hopper to center field into a double and Rafael Devers smashing a seat 400-odd feet from home plate. It ended with Ceddanne Rafaela, who played the day’s first seven innings at shortstop, throwing out Kansas City’s Garrett Hampson at third base from center field.
Now, that’s not a perfect representation. The Royals led already when Duran came to the plate, Brayan Bello’s fourth pitch ending up over the bullpens. And Kenley Jansen still had a mess to clean up after Rafaela’s rocket.