FORT MYERS, Fla. — Roman Anthony’s time with Team USA has gotten off to a fantastic start.
Tuesday afternoon the young Red Sox outfielder hit a towering two-run home run during Team USA’s first exhibition against the San Francisco Giants in Scottsdale, Arizona.
Anthony’s shot came with nobody out in the top of the sixth. After Seattle catcher and AL MVP runner-up Cal Raleigh walked to lead off the inning, Anthony got ahold of a 93.8 mph fastball from Blade Tidwell and sent it 394 feet into the right field concourse.
USA pitcher Logan Webb, who was in the middle of an in-game interview with ESPN, expressed amazement.
“Look at that one,” Webb said. “I’m really excited to watch this guy too.”
Anthony batted seventh in his Team USA debut and finished 1 for 3 with the two-run home run. The U.S. team went on to beat the Giants 15-1, with starting pitcher Paul Skenes striking out four over three innings and former Red Sox third baseman Alex Bregman adding a solo home run of his own.
Big day for Rafaela
Ceddanne Rafaela had a huge showing for the Netherlands in their 8-5 exhibition win over the Orioles. The Red Sox outfielder went 2 for 4 with a home run, a double and five RBI to lead the Dutch offense.
Rafaela’s home run was a three-run shot in the top of the second that put the Netherlands up 4-2, and he followed that with a two-run double his next time up to bat in the top of the third.
