The Yankees and Aaron Boone clearly haven’t learned to stop throwing to Rafael Devers

How many times can you get burned the same way without having to adapt? That’s a question manager Aaron Boone and the New York Yankees must ask themselves.

Boston Red Sox star third baseman Rafael Devers continues to hit hard every time he faces the division-rival Yankees, yet Boone keeps throwing to him. But why? What will it take for him to change his approach when the two-time All-Star steps up to the plate?

On Sunday, Devers broke a 0-0 tie between the Red Sox and Yankees in the top of the seventh inning by hitting a 373-foot solo home run to left field.

Devers hit an opposite-field home run on a 99-mph, four-seam fastball from New York starting right-hander Luis Gil, marking his 20th of the year. But more importantly, the slugger solidified his status as a certified Yankees killer.

In his last 14 games against the Yankees heading into Sunday’s game, Devers has been otherworldly. According to MLB.com’s Bryan Hoch, the 27-year-old is hitting an absurd .426/.541/.787 (20-for-47) with five homers, 15 runs batted in and 13 RBIs.

Additionally, Devers particularly excelled when batting in the Bronx. A notable statistic revealed during ESPN’s broadcast of the game illustrates just how dominant he has always been at Yankee Stadium.

Just before his thumping solo shot, a chart showed Devers as the fifth-most jacked player among visiting Yankees players, with 14. Moments later, he made his 15th, moving within one point of Red Sox top-seeded David Ortiz. However, he wasted no time in catching up to Big Papi.

In the top of the ninth inning, Devers blasted another four-seam ball, this time off Yankees reliever Michael Tonkin and over the center-field wall.

We’ll give Tonkin the benefit of the doubt based on where his pitch is. However, when will Boone and the Yankees figure out that it’s better to take the base on balls with Devers than to face him?

Boston cruised to a 3-0 victory thanks to Devers’ incredible performance, combined with Red Sox starting pitcher Kutter Crawford’s seven scoreless innings. From there, a solid effort from pitchers Justin Slaten and Kenley Jansen propelled the Red Sox to a shutout.