Martinez leads BoSox over Orioles 18-10
August 2, 2009
BALTIMORE (AP)—The addition of Victor Martinez(notes) to the Boston Red Sox lineuphas proven to be mutually beneficial to the team and its grateful newcomer.
Martinez had a career-high tying five hits and four RBIs, Josh Reddick(notes) andRocco Baldelli(notes) homered, and the Red Sox reached season highs in runs and hitsSunday in a 18-10 rout of the Baltimore Orioles.
Eight different players had multiple hits for the Red Sox, although no onewas as productive as Martinez. Obtained from Cleveland on Friday before thenon-waiver trade deadline, Martinez singled in a run in the second inning, gottwo hits in a seven-run fourth, singled in the sixth and added an RBI double inthe eighth.
“I’m honored to be on this side now,” said Martinez, who now finds himselfin the middle of a pennant race. “It’s not the same when you’re playing and youfall way back in the standings. Just coming over here to a team that iscompeting every year…”
Martinez joined the team Saturday and was immediately inserted in the No. 3spot behind Dustin Pedroia(notes) and ahead of Kevin Youkilis(notes). After getting an RBI inhis debut, the newcomer went wild Sunday.
Series at a Glance Boston 6 Baltimore 5 Fri, Jul 31 – Final Boston 4 Baltimore 0 Sat, Aug 1 – Final Boston 18 Baltimore 10 Sun, Aug 2 – Final
“Boy, he swung the bat great. Immediate impact,” Boston manager TerryFrancona said. “I think you’re seeing one of the better hitters in the leaguewith some renewed excitement.”
It was the fourth straight victory for the Red Sox, whose 23-hit attackincluded three apiece from Youkilis, Mike Lowell(notes) and Dustin Pedroia. Boston led7-0 in the third inning and 14-6 in the fourth before coasting to the finish.
“The amount of runs and hits they got today speaks for itself in what theproblem was,” Orioles manager Dave Trembley said. “To say we didn’t pitch wellwould be an understatement.”
The Red Sox outscored Baltimore 28-15 in completing their first three-gamesweep on the road since June 2-4 in Detroit. Youkilis went 10 for 12 with threewalks in the series and reached base 13 straight times (10 hits, three walks)before striking out in the eighth.
Adam Jones(notes) and Ty Wigginton(notes) homered for the Orioles, now 2-11 against theRed Sox this season.
Baltimore Orioles' Adam Jo… AP – Aug 2, 6:13 pm EDT
Boston starter Clay Buchholz(notes) gave up seven runs, nine hits and four walks infour-plus innings. He was replaced by Manny Delcarmen(notes) (4-2), who allowed tworuns in 1 2-3 innings.
Baltimore rookie Jason Berken(notes) (1-9) was tagged for six runs and seven hitsin 1 1-3 innings. Nine of the 13 batters he faced reached base.
“I think he’s stuck and we have to do something to get him out ofneutral,” Trembley said of Berken, who has lost nine straight decisions.
Boston set the tone in the first inning when J.D. Drew(notes) drove in three runswith a two-out double and scored on a single by Lowell. Drew left the game atthat point with a tight left groin muscle.
The Red Sox made it 6-0 in the second. Martinez hit an RBI single and BrianBass(notes) walked David Ortiz(notes) with the bases loaded to force in a run.
Boston had eight runners in scoring position before Baltimore got its firsthit, a second-inning single by Wigginton.
Baltimore Orioles reliever Mat… AP – Aug 2, 6:05 pm EDT
Reddick led off the third with his first major league homer, and the Oriolesscored six runs in their half to close to 7-6. Jones doubled in two runs, AubreyHuff(notes) hit a run-scoring double and Wigginton hit a two-run homer off theleft-field foul pole.
But any hope of a comeback vanished when Boston used a seven-run fourth tomake it 14-6. Lowell started the onslaught with a two-run double, Reddick andJed Lowrie(notes) hit RBI singles, Martinez singled in two runs and Youkilis capped theuprising with a run-scoring single.
Jones hit his 18th homer in the fifth, and Boston added two runs in thesixth, one of them on a bases-loaded walk to Youkilis from Mark Hendrickson(notes).
Nick Markakis(notes) hit a two-run double in the sixth for Baltimore, and BrianRoberts(notes) doubled in a run in the seventh.
Baldelli, who replaced the injured Drew, homered off Jim Johnson(notes) in theninth.
NOTES: The top four batters in the Boston lineup went 13 for 19 and scored11 runs. … Baltimore C Gregg Zaun(notes) was ejected in the fourth for arguing athird-strike call. … Lowell extended his hitting streak to 11 games. …Baltimore fell to 10-1 when scoring at least 10 runs.
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