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Ceddanne Rafaela hit a two-run home run to lead the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Phillies. This win secured the team's first postseason berth in four years.
BOSTON â Red Sox center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela blasted walk-off home runs against both the Angels and Rays in 2025.
He also delivered a walk-off RBI double against the Tigers Sept. 26, 2025, in a win that clinched the Red Sox their first postseason berth in four years.
âYou guys have seen: There is a clutch gene in there with him,â interim manager Chad Tracy said. âHe tends to get big hits in big moments.â
Rafaela did it again Wednesday. His pinch-hit two-run home run in the sixth inning broke a 1-1 tie. It lifted the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory over the Phillies at Fenway Park in front of 35,451.
âI think I stay calm,â Rafaela said. âI really want to be in those situations every time. Sometimes I donât do the job. Sometimes I do. I had a chance yesterday, but I didnât do it.â
Rafaela didnât come through Tuesday in Bostonâs 2-1 loss to Philadelphia. He struck out with two runners on base and one out in the ninth inning.
Ceddanne Rafaela hit a pinch-hit two-run home run that broke a 1-1 tie, leading the Red Sox to a 3-1 victory.
The Red Sox clinched their postseason berth with a walk-off RBI double by Ceddanne Rafaela against the Tigers on September 26, 2025.
Ceddanne Rafaela is recognized for his 'clutch gene,' consistently delivering big hits in critical situations, as noted by interim manager Chad Tracy.
The game against the Phillies had an attendance of 35,451 fans at Fenway Park.

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âAnd I wanted to be in the situation today, and it came true,â he said.
It marked Rafaelaâs first career pinch-hit home run.
Tracy didnât start Rafaela because he wanted to get the left-handed bats of both Mickey Gasper and Masataka Yoshida in the lineup against Phillies right-handed starter Andrew Painter. But Tracy said before the game, âYouâll probably see him (Rafaela) late.â
With Phillies lefty reliever Tanner Banks on the mound, Tracy used Rafaela as a pinch hitter for Yoshida. The Phillies then countered, bringing in righty Orion Kerkering to face Rafaela.
âPlainly put, right on rights are always a little bit better than left on lefts,â Tracy said, discussing his decision to use Rafaela in that spot. âAnd you know you want the defense out there. Weâre at the point of the game where we want the center fielder out there and itâs going to be a right on right and heâs got the ability to lose one. Just a great at-bat.â
Rafaela was down 1-2 in the count after taking a sinker for a strike, a sweeper for a ball and then another sweeper for a strike. Kerkeringâs fourth pitch was a 96.8 mph fastball, and Rafaela crushed it.
âI was hunting a fastball, looking for a fastball,â Rafaela said. âHe threw me two sweepers, so I was just looking for the fastball.â
Rafaela is 3 for 10 with one homer, one double, four RBIs and four strikeouts in his career as a pinch hitter. He is 2 for 3 with four RBIs as a pinch hitter this year.
Both Rafaela and Trevor Story went deep in Wednesdayâs win. Boston improved to 18-24.
âTwo big swings in two big spots and Rafaela obviously huge right there,â Tracy said.
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