'We're in a good spot': Red Sox show consistency in 1st game after Devers trade 

SEATTLE – The Sunday shockwaves were natural for the Red Sox as they watched star slugger Rafael Devers get pulled off the team flight before takeoff after being traded to the Giants.

What was more important to manager Alex Cora was the Monday reaction.

In the pre-game hours leading into a three-game series in Seattle, Cora made it clear to his largely youthful core there was no time for distractions.

“Obviously, it’s a huge day, right? Our job is to show up today and play the Mariners,” Cora said. “You talk to players. I just want to make sure everybody is on the same page. We’re in a good spot.”

By “good spot,” Cora was referencing the team’s recent run of success, which reached a high point with the capping of a three-game sweep of the Yankees in the final game in a Boston uniform for Devers.

A day later, unfazed by the trade, the Red Sox stayed on such the same course that they won by the same 2-0 scoreline that they did on Sunday.

“There was a lot of energy today,” said Cora. “For the group, it’s a tough day, man. Raffy, he’s Raffy. He’s not with us anymore. We’ve got a job, too. We have to continue. Today was a good day for us.”

• What the Devers trade means for the Red Sox moving forward

In other words, “business as usual” is the motto for a team that has found itself over the last couple of weeks, thanks in large part to a rejuvenated starting rotation that included Lucas Giolito punching out 10 over six scoreless innings on Monday.

“I think that that was hugely important for us to continue the positive vibes,” Giolito said. “Continue to have high energy. I had a feeling we were going to be in a good position to win, just because, despite everything that happened. Everyone seemed loose and having fun before the game, so when it came time to compete, we competed. “

The Red Sox are now riding a six-game winning streak for the first time since July 5-14, 2023. They trail the Yankees by 5 1/2 games in the American League East -- chopping five games off the deficit since June 6. Boston is currently in possession of the third AL Wild Card spot, leading the Twins by a half-game.

“Winning solves everything,” said Giolito, “No matter what's going on from the outside, no matter what people feel about what's going on, if we win baseball games, we put ourselves in a good position to continue to win more and more, that will take care of it.”

In a Zoom call with reporters prior to the game, chief baseball officer Craig Breslow emphasized that the trade of Devers didn’t signify “waving the white flag on 2025.”

• Kennedy, Breslow discuss 'inflection point' leading to Devers trade

Within the confines of the clubhouse and dugout, Cora emphasized that message.

“We have to keep going. That’s the bottom line,” said Cora. “We put ourselves in a good spot. We have played good baseball for an extended period of time. Now we have to do it without Raffy.”

Roman Anthony, MLB’s No. 1 prospect, was elevated to the No. 3 spot in the order in the first post-Raffy lineup. In his first at-bat, he mashed his first career homer to right-center.

“Obviously, he was a phenomenal player for us, and everyone knows what Raffy could do and how he was as a teammate,” said Anthony. “So it’s sad to see him go, but as a team, we understand we've got to move on and find ways to win.”

For all the young players the Red Sox have, they also have veterans like Trevor Story, Walker Buehler, Giolito and Rob Refsnyder to guide them through the period of transition.

“We have a bunch of veterans here who have been there, done that and they’ve been through stuff like that before,” Cora said. “Obviously, not stopping the plane and getting people off the plane. But they talked. They showed up. You saw them early stretching out there. We have a bunch of kids, too. I think that helps. As a group we had goals before the season and there were going to be injuries and moves and stuff, but we have a routine. And this is a good stretch for us and we have to keep playing good baseball.”

While realizing the impact Devers had in Boston for years, the Red Sox seem ready to embark on a new chapter.

“He's a great player, but at the end of the day, it's how many guys on the roster, 26?” said outfielder Jarren Duran. “That’s just one guy, so we’ve got 25 other guys that were pulling from the same line to win those series, not just one. So I think that’s how we’ve got to think about it like that as a team.”