Rafaela rescues Red Sox with 2-run blast in 9th

BALTIMORE — After finding himself in the middle of almost every significant play of the game,

Rafaela was the centerpiece of Boston’s latest victory. He nearly snagged that sinking liner in the second inning, but the ball popped out of the diving center fielder’s glove for a double.

In the seventh, Duran came from left field to chase a ball and converged with Rafaela. They looked at each other as the ball hit the base of the wall for an RBI double.

“It was a miscommunication,” Rafaela said. “I thought he had it, and he thought I had it. I’m pretty sure it won’t happen again.”

Fortunately for the Red Sox, that same duo teamed to produce the winning runs.

“I was just trying to get on base right there, like JD did,” said Rafaela, who had two hits. “We did a good job to let it go and fight for the win.”

Said Boston starter Brayan Bello: “He was going through a hard time, but every time the team needs him he comes through. Tonight was an example of that.”

Rafaela said he was just trying to make contact on the pitch from Akin, but he acknowledged that he was thinking about the long ball.

“To be honest with you, I kind of felt it,” Rafaela said. “I was really confident right there.”

Greg Weissert (6-4) got the win for Boston, while Aroldis Chapman worked a perfect ninth for his 26th save. It also was the 14th consecutive hitless appearance for Chapman, which ties Scott Aldred (1998-99) for the second-longest such streak in American League history, according to ESPN Research. Sergio Santos holds the record with 15 straight hitless appearances in 2013.

Roman Anthony got Boston started with a shot to center off Dietrich Enns on the fifth pitch of the game. Two nights earlier, the rookie became the youngest player in Red Sox history (21 years, 104 days) to hit a leadoff homer.

ESPN Research and The Associated Press contributed to this report.