Scenes from the Celtics’ visit to Fenway Park in the Red Sox victory

Scenes from the Celtics’ visit to Fenway Park in the Red Sox victory originally appeared in NBC Sports Boston

The Boston Celtics made Fenway Park the final stop on their post-NBA championship tour.

The Red Sox marked the occasion by getting what manager Alex Cora called perhaps their best win of the season.

Jarren Duran drove in Ceddanne Rafaela with a single in the ninth inning to help the Red Sox end a furious rally and defeat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-6 on Monday night.

Rafael Devers and David Hamilton combined for two-run homers for Boston, which has won 10 of its last 12 and is a season-best seven games above .500 at 43-36.

“They are feeling good about themselves. It feels like we could cause damage at any time,” Cora said. “We’ll see where this takes us.”

Toronto’s seven-game losing streak is their longest since September 2019.

Kenley Jansen (3-1) pitched a scoreless inning to get the win.

Rafaela hit a grounder from Toronto reliever Zach Pop (0-2) to Spencer Horwitz to lead off the ninth, but Horwitz had trouble getting the ball out of his glove, allowing Rafaela to reach safely.

Pop hesitated, allowing Rafaela to advance to second place. Duran then singled to right, allowing Rafaela to score past George Springer’s throw for goal.

It was Boston’s third victory and 17th comeback victory of the season.

“This was my first outing, so I have to put it over the top,” Duran said. “We fell and fought. We never give up. … We did everything right today and kept it very, very simple and kept rolling.”

Toronto appeared to be in control after Vladimir Guerrero Jr. hit a huge three-run home run over the Green Monster and out of Fenway Park during a five-run seventh inning to put the Blue Jays ahead 6-2.

Celtics next-round star Derrick White was shown on the video screen wearing a “Baseball Isn’t Boring” t-shirt.
Not long after Toronto starter Chris Bassitt was replaced by Nate Pearson in the eighth, and Pearson gave up a two-run home run to Hamilton that put Boston up 6-4.

Left-hander Tim Mayza relieved Pearson with two outs in the inning and surrendered a single to Devers. Tyler O’Neill doubled up the middle, moving Devers to third. Rob Refsnyder was then intentionally walked to load the bases.
Romy Gonzalez hit a line drive to left field that scored Devers and O’Neill to tie the game.

Bassitt allowed five hits and two runs in seven innings.

Boston starter Tanner Houck allowed five hits, three runs and struck out in 6 2/3 innings.

“There’s only one chance to have the NBA champions on your club,” Cora said. “I think it was a good night at Fenway.”

Visit of the champions

The Celtics interacted with Red Sox players in the clubhouse before the game and took the field for a pregame ceremony.

Team owners, front office members, coaching staff and players all wore Red Sox jerseys. Stars Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown were the last to enter, carrying the Larry O’Brien Trophy together.

Tatum, Brown, White, Kristaps Porzingis and Al Horford threw out ceremonial first pitches.