Ceddanne Rafaela's Grand Slam Gives Red Sox Sole Road Win Since Ted Williams

Boston Red Sox center‑fielder Ceddanne Rafaela hit his first career grand slam in the sixth inning of a 4‑2 road win over the Oakland Athletics at West Sacramento on July 27, 2026. The slam accounted for all of Boston's runs, marking only the second time in franchise history a grand slam supplied every run in a road victory, the first being Ted Williams in 1955.

The homer helped extend the Red Sox’s road streak to ten straight wins and contributed to their 18th victory in the past 20 games. After the swing Rafaela tossed his bat in frustration, saying he thought the ball was an out. Athletics manager Mark Kotsay noted the unusual celebration. The loss added to the Athletics’ recent woes, including injuries to catcher Jonah Heim and designated hitter Brent Rooker.

Rafaela’s performance highlighted a rare historical tie for the Red Sox and underscored their strong road form heading into the rest of the series.