Rafael Devers’s three-run homer in the fourth inning of the Red Sox’s 7-5 loss to the Diamondbacks on Sunday was a milestone.
The Sox third baseman reached 200 regular-season homers. At 27 years, 306 days old, Devers became the youngest player in team history to reach that mark.
He’s the 31st player in baseball history to reach 200 career home runs at age 27 or younger.
Devers is one of just 11 players in Red Sox history with 200 homers.
“It feels great,” Devers said. “There’s been so many great baseball players to come through this organization. This is one of the best organizations with the most history in baseball. And for me to be in that conversation is great, but I know that I still have a lot more to give to this organization. I don’t want to stop at 200, 250. I’m still young. I want to keep going. I want to keep improving those numbers.”
Devers, who went 1 for 4, also passed Adrian Beltré for second-most extra-base hits by a Dominican player before turning 28. Devers has 466 career extra-base hits.
“Obviously, he’s one of the best Dominican players in history, so if my name is right next to him or even in that conversation, then that’s very good and that’s a very good thing for my career,” Devers said.
Diamondbacks starter Merrill Kelly left a sinker on the outer part of the plate, and Devers lifted it to the batter’s eye in center field.
“To go straight center on that pitch, that’s impressive,” said Sox manager Alex Cora.
The milestone, Cora said, speaks to Devers’s consistency.
“His age and what he’s done in this ballpark, he’s really good at what he does,” Cora said. “He’s been really good since they called him up at 17. His first homer was in Seattle, straight center. I’ve seen a lot of them. I’m very proud of that.
“And this is a guy that regardless of circumstances — the last two years being in last place and with the elbow [injury] in ‘21 and the quad in ‘18 — he posts, he plays. You see him right now doing the things that he’s doing. He’s putting one of his best offensive seasons in his career and there’s more. There’s more.”
Devers is hitting .293 with 28 homers and 80 RBIs this season. He’s on pace to crack 30 homers for the fourth time in his career.
“You’ve got to stay positive,” Devers said. “Every year is a different year. I feel like if I stay healthy and I play everyday like I like to do, all the numbers are going to be there. For me, that’s the main thing.”
Casas finding his stride
Triston Casas dusted himself off after an 0-for-4 night Friday and gave the Sox a solo homer in the first inning. He added a single in the sixth to give himself a 2-for-4 day with a homer, an RBI, and two runs scored.
“I’m a believer in the law of averages,” Casas said. “So I felt like today was going to come in my favor.”
Casas is 12 for 35 with 2 homers, 2 doubles, 6 runs, 5 RBIs, and 4 walks since coming off the injured list Aug. 16.
Jansen’s piece of history
Part of Danny Jansen was amazed that in Major League Baseball’s more than 150 years of history, there was still room for a first like the one he’ll be a part of Monday.
“I was completely surprised kind of when I heard that I was going to be the first one,” he said.
When the Sox and Blue Jays’ June 26 matchup was suspended, Jansen was in the batter’s box for the Jays. When the game resumes Monday, Jansen will be behind the plate for the Sox.
The Jays will have to pinch hit for Jansen, which will make him the first player in baseball to technically be on both teams in the same at-bat.
Jansen said it didn’t dawn on him when the Jays traded him to Boston days before the trading deadline in July. The idea didn’t hit Cora’s radar until reporters told him he could make some odd history if he played Jansen.
“I wasn’t aware of it until people brought it up,” Cora said. “Probably at the end, even if it wasn’t history, he was going to play anyways.”
Now that it’s officially a thing, both Jansen and Cora are leaning into it.
“When AC said that I was going to be in the game, that’s when you kind of think about it more,” Jansen said.
Even with the extra attention, Jansen said he didn’t expect to feel any differently until game time.
“For me, it hasn’t hit me yet,” Jansen said. “It’s just going to be probably after the game tomorrow or maybe when the doubleheader’s done.”
Pivetta to start Game 1
Nick Pivetta will start the first game of Monday’s doubleheader, but a starter has not been determined for the nightcap . . . Tyler O’Neill, a late scratch Friday who sat out Saturday because of finger inflammation, returned Sunday and hit a solo homer in the ninth. It was his first homer since returning from the injured list on Aug. 17 . . . Justin Slaten (elbow) threw a short bullpen Sunday and Cora said he’ll likely join the team in the next few days. Slaten made a rehab appearance with Double A Portland Friday, with a hit, a walk, and a strikeout in the three batters he faced.
Julian Benbow can be reached at julian.benbow@globe.com.