BALTIMORE – JD Martinez came off the COVID-19 list and hit three home runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 14-9 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Sunday for six consecutive wins.
In the ninth inning, Martinez had a chance to tie the record for four homeruns, but struckout. He is the last of the list of 18 big leagues to hit four home runs in one game, which he achieved with Arizona in September 2017.
Martinez, 33, returned to the lineup a day after being placed on the COVID-19 list for cold symptoms. He overcame the tests and went 6-for-4, bringing in four runs and scoring four more.
It marked the fourth time that Martinez hit four homeruns in a game. A year after hitting .213 with seven homers in 54 games in the pandemic-shortened season, he hits .472 (36-17) with five homers and 16 RBI’s in eight games.
Martinez hit solo homeruns in the third, sixth and eighth innings. The triple All-Star also singled in.
For the Red Sox, Puerto Ricans Enrique Hernández were 5-2, with two runs scored and one RBI; and Christian Vázquez 5-1, with one scored. Mexican Alex Verdugo 5-2, with two runs scored and three RBI’s. The Dominicans Rafael Devers 5-2, with two runs scored and five RBI’s; and Frenchy Cordero 4-1, with a run scored. Venezuelan Marwin González 4-0, with one scored.
For the Orioles, the Dominicans were Maikel Franco 4-2, with a run scored and four RBI’s; and Pedro Severino 3-0. Venezuelans Freddy Galvis 1-1; and Anthony Santander 1-0. Mexican Ramón Urías 1-0, with one scored.