BOSTON — Catcher Carlos Narváez‘s walkoff RBI single off the Green Monster in the bottom of the 10th inning lifted the Red Sox 2-1 over the Yankees here at Fenway Park on Friday.

“His at-bats at the plate late in crunch time — just never gives in,” starter Garrett Crochet said.

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Narváez’s throw in the top of the 10th inning was equally clutch. Narváez caught Anthony Volpe, the extra-inning automatic runner, trying to steal third base for the first out.

“He’s been a revelation,” Crochet said about Narváez who the Red Sox acquired from the Yankees on the same day (Dec. 11) they acquired Crochet from the White Sox.

Crochet said his wife Rachel recently mentioned to him that he and Narváez were both traded to Boston within hours of each other.

“Call it fate, I suppose,” said Crochet, who allowed just one run in 8 ⅓ innings.

Narváez didn’t expect Volpe to run early in the count.

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“Because they’ve got (Jasson) Domínguez at the plate. Any ground ball to the right side, he (Volpe) is gonna be on third,” Narváez said.

But Narváez said he wasn’t surprised Volpe took off once Red Sox reliever Garrett Whitlock got to two strikes.

“A spin count,” Narváez said. “He probably saw the grip or something. He anticipated and he went. I just tried to put the ball on the bag, trusted (third baseman) Marcelo (Mayer) there with the tag. And that was a close play. Volpe flies and he’s a great base runner. He knows how to steal bases. So that was huge for us in that inning.”

Narváez has thrown out three of four runners who have tried to steal against him the past two games. He also shut down momentum for the Rays on Wednesday when he caught José Caballero stealing third base for the second out of the eighth inning with Boston ahead 4-3.

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“Similar to Caballero the other day,” manager Alex Cora said. “They took a chance. They’re really good at what they do base running-wise. Volpe with the hop-hop and he goes. But Narvi, he made a great throw. He actually talked with Whit when he came in. Kind of like, ‘Hey, you have to mix up your looks and you’ve gotta be quick to the plate.’”

The Red Sox knew Narváez had a chance to be an above-average defender when the acquired him. Their only concern defensively was his arm strength.

Catching instructor Parker Guinn involved the Red Sox pitching department to help the catcher with his mechanics during spring training. Narváez said he’s been working on his arm strength since camp.

“In those moments, especially key moments, I just try to put the ball on the bag as quick as possible and that was the situation,” Narváez said. “And I’m super happy we got him out.”

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Narváez also credited the pitching staff.

“The pitchers are doing a way better job, too, of controlling the running game,” he said. “Like changing looks and tempo.”

Volpe initially was called safe but the Red Sox challenged.

“That was a great throw, a great tag by Marcelo and we got the call,” Cora said.

Cora wouldn’t say whether or not he was surprised Volpe tried to steal in that situation.

“Like I’ve always said, I manage the Red Sox,” Cora said.

Crochet added about Narváez: “You talk to him and you forget he’s still classified as a rookie. It’s really special. He really calls games like he’s been doing it for 10 years in The Show.”

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Read the original article on MassLive.