It was nine months ago that Xander Bogaerts first faced Rays pitcher Jacob Faria.
He looked at the first two pitches. He fouled off the third. And the fourth one ruined his 2017 season.
Bogaerts had since faced Faria three times, going 0-for-3 against him until he knocked the Tampa Bay starter around in a six-RBI game to lead the Red Sox to a 10-3 win yesterday at Fenway Park.
“I don’t even want to think about last year — that’s over with,” Bogaerts said after the Sox extended their winning streak to seven games. “I think our focus should be on this year, the group of guys we have.