Red Sox's Chad Tracy Praises Ceddanne Rafaela's 'Clutch Gene'

"Plainly put, right-on-rights are always a little bit better than left-on-lefts," Tracy explained. "And you know you want the defense out there. We're at the point of the game where we want the center fielder out there. It's gonna be a right-on-right, and he has the ability to lose one. Just a great at-bat."

Rafaela laid off three pitches, including consecutive sweepers, before scorching a 96-mph fastball right down the plate. Tracy praised the 25-year-old's selectiveness off the bench.

"I thought he was patient too, though, Tracy continued. "He didn't just go up there hacking right away. They threw him some spin and stuff moving away from him that he stayed off and just patiently waited it out until he got something that he liked and got a good swing out. So, I thought it was a heck of a plate appearance in a pinch-hit spot."

Rafaela told NESN's Jahmai Webster after the game that he went to the batter's box seeking a fastball.

"Just looking for a pitch to hunt in the middle of the zone," Rafaela said. "He threw it, and I did damage."

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