BOSTON — Romy Gonzalez wasn’t trying to do too much when he stepped to the plate in the bottom of the 12th inning with the Red Sox and Rays tied 4-4.
“First and second, no outs, I’m just trying to move the runners over to second and third,” Gonzalez said. “A base hit for an RBI is obviously the bonus.”
Gonzalez hit the bonus. His RBI single down the right field line lifted the Red Sox to a 5-4 walkoff victory here at Fenway Park on Tuesday.
The 27-year-old versatile backup player connected on an 88.5 mph slider from Rays righty Manuel Rodríguez and sent it to the opposite field with a 105 mph exit velocity.
“He has that ability to shoot the ball the other way,” manager Alex Cora said.
Reliever Brennan Bernardino, who pitched a scoreless top of the 12th, and other teammates doused Gonzalez with water.
“Oh, man. It’s awesome,” Gonzalez said. “Getting a walkoff win here in the big leagues is unbelievable.”
Gonzalez couldn’t recall the last time he delivered a walkoff but Tuesday’s marked the first of his major league career.
“I couldn’t even tell you. It had to have been some time in the minor leagues,” Gonzalez said.
Gonzalez entered as a pinch runner in the bottom of the 10th inning. He remained in the game at first base, a position he has played just one other time in the major leagues (May 8 at Atlanta). He logged just 14 starts at first base in the minors.
“I mean, he went to a great school so he’s a smart individual,” Cora joked about Gonzalez’s ability to play multiple positions. Like Cora, Gonzalez, played baseball at the University of Miami.
“He’s getting used to first,” Cora said. “He can play the outfield. He can play second, short and third. He’s a good hitter. He gives himself a chance. And he can run. You saw it the last few days. He’s versatile. We can move him around. We still had Coop (Garrett Cooper) on the bench. So we’ll keep playing with the roster, trying to maximize matchups.”
Gonzalez described bouncing around to different positions as “pretty fun” and “pretty interesting.”
“It keeps me on my toes,” he said.
Boston claimed him off waivers from the White Sox on Jan. 31. He began the season at Triple-A Worcester. He suffered a left wrist sprain April 10, one day after Boston recalled him from Worcester. He spent the next 24 games on the injured list.
“Obviously you want to make the most of every situation that’s presented to you,” he said. “But that’s something that’s out of my control. I hurt myself trying to make a play for my team. So there’s not too much to dwell on.”
