Ceddanne Rafaela, Jarren Duran hit back-to-back homers in extras

Boston’s bullpen gave up four unanswered runs in the eighth and ninth innings.

Ceddanne Rafaela has been clutch in extra innings for the Red Sox this year. AP Photo/Paul Sancya

When the Red Sox’ bullpen blew up a 4-0 lead to the Tigers in the eighth and ninth innings Friday night, it looked like they were about to lose for the sixth time in their last eight games.

However, Ceddanne Rafaela and Jarren Duran took matters into their own hands in extra innings. They led Boston to a 7-5 victory via back-to-back home runs.

With the game tied at four runs apiece in the top of the 10th, Rafaela drilled a two-run home run off of Shelby Miller. The Red Sox rookie got ahold of a 94-mile-per-hour fastball and saw it land in the left field seats to give Boston a two-run lead.

Watch Rafaela’s go-ahead home run:

In the next at-bat, Duran hit a towering solo homer off of Detroit’s next relief pitcher, Tyler Holton, on the first pitch Holton threw. Duran launched a 91-mile-per-hour sinker 431 feet to right-center field, extending the Red Sox’ extra-inning lead to 7-4.

Watch Duran’s solo shot:

Boston held a 4-0 lead until the eighth inning when reliever Brennan Bernardino allowed a three-run home run to Kerry Carpenter. In the ninth, Kenley Jansen allowed a RBI double by Jake Rogers to knot the contest at four runs. Those four unanswered runs could have been deflating, but the Red Sox’ lineup quickly reminded fans that they’re resilient.

“We grind to the end. It was a great ballgame. Keeping it together and win as a team,” Rafaela told NESN’s Jahmai Webster postgame. “I think I’m still learning every day. I think even guys with 10 years in the majors still learning every day. … I’m gonna keep grinding to help my team and keep learning.”

Rafaela is no stranger to go-ahead homers this season. The rookie hit a two-run home run in the 10th inning against the Yankees in the Bronx on July 5, which ultimately won Boston the game.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora praised Rafaela for his big hit after the hitter went 0 for 3 in his previous at-bats.

“The Kid [Ceddanne Rafaela], he wasn’t having a good night offensively,” Cora said postgame. “He swung at two fastballs and they had a lot of hop, and he sold out to one of them and got it.”