Ceddanne Rafaela’s two-run single in seventh lifts Red Sox

“Honestly, it could have been thousands of dollars and I would have bought it,” Duran stated. “I was just so excited that it popped up in my [line of] vision that I just was like, ‘I need this.’ ”

Bowser has turn out to be an unintended mascot for these Sox. In spring coaching, utility man Nick Sogard and shortstop Trevor Story assigned the nickname to first baseman Willson Contreras. He was a newcomer who stood out — from throughout the sphere and, now, in their very own locker room — for his brute power and fiery demeanor.

“Look at him,” Story stated in April. “Strong as hell.”

Contreras/Bowser T-shirts ensued. In the months since, he has been the Sox’ greatest participant, a pacesetter in statistics and vitality. He carries an edge on a membership that always wants one.

And then, slightly over every week in the past, Duran was strolling round Manhattan earlier than a recreation in opposition to the Yankees. In the entrance show of a toy retailer — bear in mind shops? — stood Bowser, about 18 inches excessive and heavier than one may count on (per Rafaela).

“Basically speaking to me through the window,” Duran stated.

He had been in search of a brand new “trophy trinket,” he stated, for one of the best participant of each win. Last 12 months, it was the duvet of the dugout bullpen cellphone that then-manager Alex Cora broke in a match of frustration. They inscribed it with a “Player of the Game” word and carried it from metropolis to metropolis for months.

Now, Duran had discovered a substitute. He purchased Bowser, introduced it to Yankee Stadium, and awarded it to the Sox’ standout hitter after they gained that evening. It was, coincidentally, Contreras, who had two hits, together with a second-deck residence run, and three RBIs.

Since the trophy is awarded solely after wins, Contreras had custody for every week — via a rainout, a four-game shedding streak, and a break day. He chosen Abreu late Friday in a postgame mini-ceremony, which requires a short speech from the recipient.

Abreu picked Rafaela on Saturday, when the Sox gained at Fenway Park on consecutive days for the primary time since April 7-8. Rafaela will select who’s subsequent after the following Red Sox win.

“It’s always fun,” Rafaela stated, smiling as he admired the toy, “to have something with the boys.”

The Red Sox are 29-39 and — by advantage of taking the primary two from Texas — secured a house sequence victory for simply the second time in 11 possibilities. Often, it has not been enjoyable. Sometimes, you must make your personal enjoyable. They try to maintain it mild.

“That’s just something you have to come up with every year,” Duran stated. “It just happened to come up in New York.”

Duran had a case for Saturday’s honor, having contributed a two-run residence run within the eighth inning — a key cushion-expander for Aroldis Chapman, who labored round a leadoff hit within the ninth to remain good (14 for 14) in save alternatives.

Hurlers usually are not eligible for Bowser honors, however the pitcher of the sport was Ranger Suarez, who held the Rangers to 2 runs in 5 innings. Texas (34-36) loaded the bases within the fourth (no outs) and fifth (one out) however got here away with only one run.

Suarez matched up nicely in effectiveness, if not velocity, with righthander Jacob deGrom (six innings, two runs). That made for a tied recreation getting into the late innings.

Starting the game-swinging rally for the Sox: infield singles from Isiah Kiner-Falefa and Carlos Narváez, whose gradual floor ball rolled up the third-base line and hit the bag. Andruw Monasterio loaded the bases by drawing a pinch-hit stroll, which Rafaela referred to as “probably the most important [plate appearance] of the game.”

Before the most important hit of the day, Rafaela swung and missed at one head-high fastball and checked his swing on the following pitch in about the identical location. Then he shot a line drive to left to plate a pair.

“He … calmed himself down and made sure he got a strike and put it in play,” interim supervisor Chad Tracy stated.

Rafaela had the trophy to show it, too.

“I was talking to the boys around the dugout. I was like, there’s nobody else I want up at the plate right now more than Rafaela,” Duran stated. “In any situation where we need to come up clutch, he’s the guy.”

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Tim Healey will be reached at timothy.healey@globe.com. Follow him @timbhealey.