What Red Sox Leader Reminded Young Players Of Before Walk-Off Win

The Red Sox earned a thrilling walk-off win Monday, and with a team of energetic speedsters, it was Rob Refsnyder who stepped up in the big moment.

Boston earned a 5-4 win over the Texas Rangers at Fenway Park when Refsnyder hit a walk-off single in the 10th inning. The result put the Red Sox two games behind the Kansas City Royals, who to the Minnesota Twins on Monday, for the final American League wild-card spot.

Refsnyder started the series opener against Texas with Jarren Duran serving a two-game unpaid suspension, and the veteran emerged this season as a “de facto captain” of the clubhouse. And the 33-year-old knew what the younger players needed to hear before they tried to break their four-game losing streak.

“We’ve been playing our best baseball when our young guys have been pretty electric on the basepaths, playing uber-aggressive,” Refsnyder told reporters, per MassLive’s Chris Cotillo. “I think that’s our identity this year. Sometimes, when you lose a couple games in a row you get a little passive. I just wanted our younger guys to push the envelope. They’re so vital to our offense.

“To get in the postseason, you can’t be scared to make mistakes. We’ve got to just play the way we’ve been playing the past couple weeks.”

Refsnyder likely will get the start again as Duran serves the final game of his suspension, and the veteran gets another chance to help the Red Sox earn another win over the Rangers on Tuesday.