MILWAUKEE -- Rafael Devers was a few feet out of the batter’s box as he flipped his bat in the air, propelling it over his head and behind him, before leaving it in the dust to round the bases.

It was a befitting celebration for the Red Sox’s All-Star third baseman following his plate appearance in the sixth inning of Saturday’s game against the Brewers. Devers cranked a two-run homer 416 feet to right field, bringing the Red Sox within a run of Milwaukee in an eventual 5-4 loss.

“That was a great at-bat,” manager Alex Cora said. “Was late on a 2-0 fastball and then he kept battling and battling and battling and put a good swing on it.”

Devers has gotten off to a fast start at the plate this season, and he put forth an early nominee Saturday night for his best plate appearance of the 2023 campaign.

Facing Brewers reliever Joel Payamps in the sixth, Devers laid off a changeup in the dirt and a four-seam fastball high and outside to get ahead in the count 2-0. Payamps then got him to swing and miss on a four-seamer on the outer half of the plate, thigh high, and Devers took another fastball on the inside corner to fall into a 2-2 count.

From there, his mentality was simple.

“Just narrow the strike zone to a pitch that I wanted to handle,” Devers said through interpreter Carlos Villoria. “Just have a good approach to that at-bat, try not to swing at bad pitches, try to swing hard in the zone.”

Devers took a changeup low to run the count full and fouled off a slider down and inside and a four-seamer off the plate to stay alive. He was looking for a fastball on the next pitch, and Payamps threw him one high and on the inner half of the plate.

Devers didn’t miss. He hit the chest-high pitch 110 mph into the second deck of right-field seating at American Family Field.

For those scoring at home, that’s Devers’ fourth-hardest hit ball this season.

“I look for fastballs,” Devers said. “It wasn’t a good pitch to hit, but I was looking for the fastball high in the zone and I was able to get it.

Devers finished the night 2-for-4, also hitting a double in the first inning. The Red Sox fell behind early -- Rowdy Tellez continued his torrid run against Boston pitching with a two-run homer -- and had a chance to tie things late with Devers at the plate. Brewers reliever Hoby Milner struck him out in the eighth, to strand the potential tying run at second base.

"No question, that was two huge outs, and to get two strikeouts there,” Brewers manager Craig Counsell said. “Rafael Devers is one of the best hitters in this league. Every time he comes through, you worry for sure. [Milner] made some great pitches and got it done."

Devers has been one of the best hitters in baseball in the early going, ranking near the top of the Majors in homers (eight) and RBIs (20), while hitting .264 with a .925 OPS. That start has him in some pretty good company in Red Sox history.

“Since the beginning of Spring Training, I've been feeling really good, just making an adjustment every time,” Devers said. “Every game I try to adjust to their game plan and see how they're pitching me. Just trying to adjust every time, to have good at-bats. I’ve been feeling really good this year.”

Boston's offense entered Saturday near the top of the American League in many offensive categories -- including tied for second in runs scored, tied for third in hits and second in extra-base hits.

Often, that means there’s going to be traffic on the bases for Devers. And with how he’s going, there’s a good chance he’s going to capitalize.

“He’s been good,” Cora said. “The guys in front of him are doing an outstanding job getting on base. When you’ve got traffic in front of you, it's hard to pitch around you. You don't want to run into situations -- bases loaded or first and second, less than two outs. He's been doing an outstanding job. Overall, offensively, keeping the line moving, taking walks and grinding at-bats, I think [has been] so far, so good.”