NEW YORK -- When the Yankees signed Carlos Narváez at the age of 16 out of Venezuela on July 2, 2015, the catcher undoubtedly dreamed of the day he would come through with a big home run in the Bronx.
It took one month shy of a decade for it to happen, and when it did on Sunday night, Narváez was wearing the uniform of the rival Red Sox.
His unlikely ascent from fighting for the backup catcher’s spot in Spring Training to the cleanup hitter in Boston’s injury-depleted lineup is a storyline that added steam in the rubber match of the first series between the storied rivals this season.
Narváez smashed a three-run homer to left field in the sixth inning that put his team ahead en route to an 11-7 victory. It was one of five on the night for the Red Sox -- their most in a game at new Yankee Stadium since May 17, 2010.
“Special,” Narváez said. “Something special, but more because we found a way to get back in the game. The homer was huge for us.”
Good thing Narváez resisted his initial temptation to overthink the situation.
“I was in my head a little bit to bunt there, to be honest,” Narváez said. “I talked to [third-base coach Kyle Hudson]. I was like, ‘OK, I’m just going to be aggressive.’ And then that happened. I found myself in a two-strike approach, just put the ball in play. I’m happy I found some barrel and then we came back and won the game.”
When the Red Sox acquired the 26-year-old in a rare rivalry trade a few hours after parting with top catching prospect Kyle Teel to the White Sox in the blockbuster for ace Garrett Crochet at the Winter Meetings, it barely even got a headline.
Connor Wong went into the season as the starting catcher for the Sox but fractured his left fifth finger on catcher’s interference. Narváez pounced on the opportunity not only behind the plate, where he has always been strong, but with his bat.
His three-run shot off Carlos Rodón traveled a Statcast-projected 372 feet to left.
“Narvy is a hard worker, a great teammate, one of the best we ever had over here,” said Yankees superstar Aaron Judge, who hammered two homers. “I was sad to see him go, but excited for the opportunity he's getting right now. He's really doing his thing over there, swinging it well. He had a short time coming up with us for a little bit and the stuff I saw in Spring Training and stuff I heard about, everybody loved him. He outworked everybody in this room. So it doesn't surprise me he's having the success he is this year.”
Narváez started all three games against his former team -- the one he played his first six Major League games with last season. But he almost got a rest on Sunday.
“Yeah, he was trying hard the whole weekend. Actually, today I was a little bit hesitant to play him, but decided he can play three and then Connor [can start] on Monday,” manager Alex Cora said. “He put together some good at-bats, went the other way, worked the count and he pulled it in the air and that was a huge one for us.”
After a 9-6 loss on Friday night, the Sox, who have been trying to gain some momentum for weeks, might have found some in the Bronx, taking the final two games from the American League East-leading Yankees to improve to 32-35 heading into a homestand that starts Monday against the Rays.
In particular, the offense surged, compiling 21 runs in the two wins.
“Definitely huge for us. For all of us,” Narváez said. “Everybody sees what we’ve been through the last couple of weeks, battling, going through tough moments. This series was huge for us. Every time we play against the Yankees, it’s something special.”
Narváez once thought he’d be on the other side of the rivalry. But being on Boston’s side is working out well for him thus far. And nobody is happier about that than the Red Sox’s pitching staff.
“He's a great catcher,” said rookie Hunter Dobbins, who earned the win on Sunday. “I can sit down hours before the game and he's already got the game plan put together. He eats and sleeps baseball. He’s swinging it really well. He's a lot of fun to watch and a lot of fun to throw to. He’s our guy, and it's just a lot of fun having him back there.”