BOSTON — Unlike many other working folks from up north, Nelson Cruz didn’t move to Florida to retire.
The Rays brought him in to do a job, to use his bat to lead them deep into the postseason. And as he has warmed to the task, they get to go along on his ride into baseball’s record books.
The 41-year-old DH went deep twice in Tuesday’s 12-7 beating of the Red Sox, becoming the oldest player to reach the 30-homer plateau in major-league history, surpassing Boston’s David Ortiz and Detroit’s Darrell Evans, who did it as 40-year-olds.
“It’s definitely a privilege,” Cruz said. “David Ortiz has meant so much for baseball and also is a Dominican. So it’s just an honor to be by his side.”
Cruz, who ran his career homer total to 447 (two behind Jeff Bagwell and Vlad Guerrero for 40th all-time), logged his 40th career multi-homer game (the 34th to do so) and posted his 20th four-hit game, was one of several Rays to have a big night.
• Wander Franco — drawing a walk his fourth time up — extended his on-base streak to 37 games, breaking a tie with Mickey Mantle for second all-time among players 20 and younger; Frank Robinson had a record 43 in 1956.
• Catcher Mike Zunino also hit two homers, giving him 29 in his amazing season, and he and Cruz also made a Mantle connection. They became the second pair of teammates to have at least two homers and four RBIs in the same game at Fenway Park, joining Mantle and Yankees mate Roger Maris, who did it on May 30, 1961.
• And Drew Rasmussen went five strong innings to earn his first big-league win in five games as a starter, as well as raves from his teammates over how much impact he could have in the postseason. “I think what he’s done for this team is exponential,” Zunino said. “The way he’s throwing the ball, he’s a game changer when you’re talking about who you’re going to line up in a playoff series.”
The Rays improved their American League-best record to 88-51 (on a pace for 103 wins) and extended their East division lead over the Yankees to 9 ½ games with 23 to play.
Cruz said a few days ago he felt he was getting his swing right and has been doing extra work to get there, including morning sessions at his home — where he hits plastic balls off a tee with help from his personal hitting coach — and in hotel rooms on the road — where he uses a tee and visualizes making contact. “I don’t want to break stuff at the hotel,” Cruz said.
That effort appears to be paying off, as he has hit four homers in his last four games after going 12 without. He now has 11 homers in 36 games for the Rays (while hitting .238), after swatting 19 homers in 85 games for the Twins while hitting .294. “It finally feels it is there what I want it to be,” Cruz said.
The Rays have welcomed his impact on their overall lineup, as they’ve averaged a majors-most 6.7 runs over the 42 games since he joined them July 23, and scored eight or more in half. But it will be even better if he gets hot.
“I’ve told guys for a long time, just be careful because when he does, he’s going to be able to carry a full lineup,” Zunino said. “Seeing him drive the ball the opposite way and then be able to get some balls in the air now, it’s going to be really fun to watch these next few weeks down this stretch, because he can really keep us going here.”
Manager Kevin Cash said he has never doubted how much Cruz will help.
“We’ve been saying that it’s just a matter of time,” Cash said. “And we were all very confident in that, still confident in that. The track record speaks for itself. He’s going to hit. He’s going to really, really contribute for us.”
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