Hunter Renfroe delivers clutch go-ahead homer, incredible game-ending throw to lift Red Sox over Rays

When Hunter Renfroe returned to his locker in the clubhouse after making two clutch plays to lift the Red Sox to a huge win, he had texts waiting for him from several of his former Rays teammates. One included a GIF of someone waving a white flag, an appreciation of what the Red Sox right fielder had just done to them.

It was only fitting. There was no beating Renfroe on Wednesday night, when he provided the latest reminder to his former team that he always had more to offer, and didn’t deserve to be kicked to the curb last offseason.

Renfroe’s breakout season with the Red Sox reached his signature moment — or moments — when he produced two electrifying game-winning plays: a clutch, go-ahead homer in the eighth, and an incredible, game-ending throw from deep in center field to cut down Joey Wendle at third base, capping a dramatic and needed 2-1 victory over the Rays.

“What he’s done for us this season, it’s been amazing,” manager Alex Cora said. “It was fun to watch.”

In the thick of a playoff chase, Renfroe’s huge night came at the best time. The Red Sox snapped a three-game losing streak with the victory, and finally pulled ahead of the struggling Yankees by a half-game for the first wild-card spot.

The Red Sox might not be sniffing the playoffs without Renfroe, who’s been, by all accounts, Chaim Bloom’s best signing. After being designated for assignment by the Rays last November, Renfroe has found a new home in Boston and the Red Sox have found a bargain. Bloom saw more than a platoon player in Renfroe, and he’s proved him right, becoming one of the best defensive outfielders in baseball in addition to providing a big, clutch bat as their everyday right fielder.

“I never labeled myself as a platoon player,” Renfroe said.

Wednesday was the culmination of it all.

Nathan Eovaldi had pitched seven dominant innings, but the Red Sox trailed 1-0 going into the bottom of the eighth. But the pinch-hitting Alex Verdugo got things going with a leadoff single, and three batters later, Renfroe stepped to the plate with two outs and did what he does, demolishing a mammoth blast that cleared everything in left for the go-ahead homer.

Somehow, he wasn’t done.

Less than 10 minutes later, with two outs in the ninth, Wendle hit a shot to center that Danny Santana dove for and couldn’t snag. But Renfroe was backing up the play and chased down the rolling ball in deep center. He picked it up, planted his feet and delivered an absolute missile to third. It bounced once and into Bobby Dalbec’s glove an instant before Wendle got to the bag for an exhilarating game-winning out.

“I knew if I made a good, strong throw and it was accurate, I had a chance to get him,” Renfroe said. “I released the ball and saw it was kind of going on target and I had to beat him. I happened to beat him, and I think Bobby put an incredible tag on him. Got him out and helped us win the game. …

“It was great. Any time you can help the team win, that’s huge. Obviously the last throw, the homer, was icing on the cake. We needed that win really bad.”

Celebration ensued on the field. Hansel Robles let out a big scream near third base, and Renfroe was mobbed by his teammates, who were almost in some disbelief.

“It’s tough to run, stop, catch the ball, plant, throw all the way to third, on the money,” Eovaldi said. “It was just unbelievable.”

At this point, though, there’s no denying what Renfroe can do. With 27 home runs, many of them in big moments, to go along with an MLB-leading 16 outfield assists, he’s proved he belongs. The Red Sox might not be where they are without him.

“I knew myself as an everyday player and I wanted to prove myself as an everyday player,” Renfroe said. “Coming in, Chaim and AC always said, ‘Hey, your job is going to be in right field, I want to throw you out there and keep you out there and you’re going to be our guy.’”