Devers' Booed Return Highlights Emotional Weekend in Boston

Rafael Devers returned to Fenway Park for the first time since the Boston Red Sox traded him to the San Francisco Giants last season, and the reception was decidedly mixed. As reported by the Associated Press and multiple outlets covering the series, Devers was met with a chorus of boos in his first plate appearance Friday night, though a video tribute before the second inning drew a more evenly divided response. He homered in the fourth inning but went 0 for 4 with a walk across the weekend series.

Red Sox outfielder Wilyer Abreu told reporters he was surprised by the boos, saying via X that Devers is "a really good person, a really good player" who "did a lot for the team." Giants starter Logan Webb, who gave up five runs and exited in the third inning Friday, also weighed in. "He did a lot of great things for that organization, so, kind of disappointing hearing the boos, but it is what it is," Webb said, as carried by NBC Sports Bay Area. Reggie Jackson's old line, "Fans don't boo nobodies," was also invoked in one account.

Mayer's Injury History Continues With Giants

Marcelo Mayer, traded from Boston to San Francisco for reliever Erik Miller at the start of the month, missed the weekend series entirely. The former top prospect, who has never played 100 games in a professional season, was sidelined by a bone bruise in his right foot, an injury that reportedly stemmed from his time in Boston and was aggravated during his Triple-A rehab assignment. Giants manager Tony Vitello said Mayer will rest over the weekend and be reassessed when the team returns to San Francisco, calling a mid-series debut "a little unrealistic."

Mayer played in four rehab games from Aug. 13-18, batting .353. He had been dealing with a forearm stress reaction earlier in the season and hasn't played in an MLB game since July 23, when he was with the Red Sox. In 70 games with Boston, the 23-year-old hit .220 with a .594 OPS and three home runs.

The trade has so far favored the Red Sox: Miller has thrown 8 1/3 scoreless innings with 14 strikeouts in eight appearances, while Mayer has yet to play for the Giants.

Saturday's Dramatic Win for Boston

The Red Sox took a 2-0 lead in the series with a 3-2, 10th-inning walk-off win Saturday. According to the Associated Press and other reports, the Red Sox tied the game in the ninth on pinch-hitter Eli White's RBI single and Nick Sogard's run-scoring double off the Green Monster, then won it when Wilyer Abreu’s fielder's choice brought White home. Umpire James Hoyle's safe call was upheld after a game-review.

Sam Hentges took the loss. Andrew Knizner and Willy Adames homered for the Giants, while Blake Tidwell struck out seven over 5 2/3 scoreless, but Boston's bullpen shut the door. The Red Sox are 23-11 since the All-Star break and won their second straight series; the Giants dropped to 52-77.

Series Finale Sunday

Jake Bennett (7-6, 3.46 ERA) is the confirmed Saturday starter for Boston's first game, while the Giants have announced Matt Wilkinson (6-6, 3.40 ERA). First pitch from Fenway is at 3:15 p.m. The BBC reported that MLB lines for Sunday show the Red Sox as -220 favorites on the moneyline.