Devers, Hamilton homer and Red Sox recover from 4-run deficit to outlast Blue Jays 7-6

BOSTON (AP) — The Boston Celtics have made Fenway Park the final stop on their post-NBA championship tour.

The Red Sox marked the occasion by earning what manager Alex Cora called perhaps their best win of the season.

Jarren Duran drove in Ceddanne Rafaela with a single in the ninth inning to help the Red Sox cap a furious rally and beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Monday night.

Rafael Devers and David Hamilton both added two homers for Boston, which has won 10 of its last 12 games and holds a record seven games above .500 at 43-36.

“They feel good about themselves. It feels like we can do damage at any time,” Cora said. “We’ll see where this takes us.”

Toronto’s seven-game losing streak is its longest since September 2019.

Kenley Jansen (3-1) pitched a scoreless inning to earn the win.

Rafaela clipped a grounder to Toronto reliever Zach Pop (0-2) to Spencer Horwitz to start the ninth, but Horwitz struggled to get the ball out of his glove, allowing Rafaela to reach it safely.

Pop hesitated, allowing Rafaela to move into second place. Duran then hit a single to right, allowing Rafaela to score, sliding in front of George Springer’s throw.

It was Boston’s third late victory and 17th comeback win of the season.

“It was my first win, so I have to put it at the top,” Duran said. “We fell and we fought back. We never gave up. … We did everything right today and we kept it really, really simple and kept rolling.

Toronto appeared to be in control after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a towering three-run homer off the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park during a five-run seventh inning to give the Blue Jays a 6-2 lead.

The Celtics’ star of the next inning, Derrick White, was shown on the video screen wearing a “Baseball Isn’t Boring” t-shirt.

Shortly after Toronto starter Chris Bassitt was replaced by Nate Pearson in the eighth, Pearson gave up a two-run homer to Hamilton that brought Boston within 6-4.

Left-hander Tim Mayza replaced Pearson with two outs in the inning and gave up a single to Devers. Tyler O’Neill doubled up the middle, putting Devers at third. Rob Refsnyder was then intentionally walked to load the bases.

Romy Gonzalez hit a line drive to left field that allowed Devers and O’Neill to tie the game.

Bassitt allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings.

Boston starter Tanner Houck allowed five hits, three runs and struck out in 6 2/3 innings.

“There is only one chance to have the NBA champions in your club,” Cora said. “I think it was a good night at Fenway.”

Trainers’ room

Blue Jays: Shortstop Bo Bichette (right calf strain) could be activated as early as Tuesday. The injury sent him to the IL on June 15.

Red Sox: First baseman Triston Casas received another MRI on a rib strain that has kept him sidelined for the past 57 games. He told reporters he got additional footage because he had been feeling good lately. “We want to make sure everything is okay before we start letting it rip.” …C Connor Wong has been placed on the paternity list.

Visit of the champions

The Celtics interacted with Red Sox players in the clubhouse before the game and took the field for a pregame ceremony.

Team owners, front office members, coaching staff and players all marched wearing Red Sox jerseys. Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the last to compete, jointly winning the Larry O’Brien Trophy.

Tatum, Brown, White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford then all threw out ceremonial first pitches.

Following

RHP Kevin Gausman (5-6, 4.24 ERA) is scheduled to make his 16th start Tuesday for Toronto. He allowed five runs in 5 2/3 innings in a 7-3 loss to Boston last week. RHP Brayan Bello (7-4, 4.83) gets the nod for the Red Sox. He allowed two runs in six innings to beat Gausman last week.