BOSTON — For the first time since last Friday, Ceddanne Rafaela did not belt a home run Tuesday.

But that doesn’t mean his production stopped.

After homering in each of his previous three games, Rafaela contributed a two-run double, the big blow in the Red Sox’ four-run sixth inning in a 10-2 thumping of the woeful Colorado Rockies.

That big hit, which turned a 1-0 lead into a 3-0 edge, was, like most everything that Rafaela has hit in the past six weeks, a bullet — a hard line drive pulled into the left field corner.

Since May 27, when the Red Sox instilled him in the need to pull the ball in the air, Rafaela has been a different offensive weapon, batting .319 with a .989 OPS in those 37 games.

Included in that stretch has been 23 extra-base hits (10 homers, 13 doubles) and 31 RBI.

“In this ballpark, especially, he needs to (pull the ball),” said Alex Cora. “I used to joke around about Mookie (Betts) – there was a year when he was crushing the ball to right-center. It looked awesome, pretty, but it was an out. Kind of like the same thing with (Rafaela) — he can crush the ball to right-center, but in this venue (you don’t get rewarded).”

“I’m trying to look for a pitch to do damage on,” said Rafaela, “and the other ones that I don’t want to swing at, I don’t really want to look for those. I want to look for the ones that I can do damage on.

“It’s not really pulling the ball more. It’s just that when I hit it to the pull side, I elevate the ball in the air. I stay with my approach to the middle of the field and I let it happen by itself.”

Whatever philosophical or mechanical adjustment he’s made, there’s no arguing with the results. Most of the time, Rafaela is lodged in the ninth spot in the order — he was lifted to sixth Tuesday night — with the ability to provide some pop from the lower third and turn over the lineup.

“I’ve been so impressed with his at-bats,” marveled Trevor Story. “The way he’s playing the game right now is at an All-Star level. He’s playing amazing defense in center field like he always has. And the at-bats are just so consistent. He’s hitting the ball really hard. You can see that he’s in total control of the at-bat. He’s got a lot of confidence that he’s playing with right now. It’s fun to watch. He’s an amazing player and I think he’s just getting better.”

Control wasn’t always part of Rafaela’s game. For much of last year and first two months of this season, he was far too aggressive at the plate and consistently put himself in disadvantageous counts as he swung at pitches out of the zone.

But a more targeted approach, coupled with a conscious effort to drive the ball in the air to the pull side, has revealed him to be a far more explosive offensive player.

Like Betts, Rafaela is sinewy rather than muscular, with quick wrists.

“He’s just so wiry, man, and so explosive,” said Story, “kind of the prototypical baseball player. You see him moving the bat fast, runs fast, great hand-eye (coordination), just an amazing athlete on the baseball field. He hits the ball harder, I feel like, than anyone on our team except Romy (Gonzalez) maybe. He’s fun to watch; special player.”

Rafaela and Story — the former in just his second full season, the latter an established veteran — both slumped early, but began to rebound at about the same time. As the past six weeks have unfolded, Story has been watching his teammate in admiration and has been impressed by Rafaela’s newfound approach.

“The control of the at-bat,” said Story. “He’s been very convicted on what he wants to hit and he’s executed that. Before, he might have gotten out of that a little bit or expanded a touch, which is natural for (young) hitters. I think you’re seeing the kind of player he can be when he’s really dialed in.”

If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.