Cuban Randy Arozarena, a Rays gardener, stole an extra base from Hunter Renfroe on Monday night at Fenway Park with a spectacular catch, saving a run with his effort.
With no outs in the fourth inning, with men in second and third and the Rays down 1-0 in the first of the series against the Red Sox, Renfroe hit a ball between the center and right that came out of his bat in 101 mph. What seemed like a double assurance, or perhaps a triple, ended up being a sacrifice fly, with Puerto Rican Christian Vázquez scoring on foot and running from third … all thanks to Arozarena’s incredible play.
Arozarena’s catch in mid-flight not only required the right fielder to stretch to the maximum, but also bend his body back to catch the ball. In the transmission of the Red Sox they asked if we will see another such good play in the rest of the season, and although it may not end up being the best catch of 2021 when the campaign is completed, for now there is no he has doubts that it has been the best.