Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez was a difference maker in ALDS Game 1

Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez had a game-changing home run in the win over the Yankees in Game One of the ALDS. Expect more of that from Martinez.

Last night’s playoff atmosphere at Fenway Park is something that we haven’t seen in fourteen years. There really is nothing like Red Sox Vs. Yankees in the postseason.

What Sox fans miss is the bat of David Ortiz who really is the reason why they won in October of 2004. Without those clutch moments, the Sox might’ve gotten swept in the 2004 ALCS. Ortiz was also clutch in the 2013 postseason, hitting a grand slam in Game 2 of the ALCS to tie the game against the Detroit Tigers. An Ortiz type power hitter is what the Red Sox were missing last postseason, until this year.

That J.D. Martinez three-run home run last night was the difference maker in Game 1 of the ALDS.

Martinez was brought to the Red Sox in the offseason to try and compete with the Yankees because they traded for Giancarlo Stanton.  It really has been the complete opposite all season. Stanton didn’t really have the year Yankees fans had hoped and Martinez has been clutch in every way for the Red Sox.

The Red Sox were smart to get Martinez at 5 years and $110 million in the offseason. What a difference when you have a big hitter in the middle of the lineup in big situations like last night. Who knows what would’ve happened if he didn’t hit the home run. They could’ve lost because the Sox only won by a score of  5-4.

Martinez told manager Alex Cora before the game that he would be looking for a low pitch from Yankees starter JA Happ, according to Jason Mastrodonato of the Boston Herald. In his first at-bat he got one low and hit it over the Green Monster.

"“When I hit it, obviously I was a little bit more pumped up than every other home run I hit during the season. But that’s just because of the stage, really.” Martinez said."

That type of attitude is what you need to win games in the postseason, which is why the Red Sox are going to win this series.  Martinez isn’t Ortiz yet in the postseason but he very much is on his way and last night was proof of that basically winning the game for them. Between the questionable bullpen, the offense really needs to deliver and for Martinez to step up in the big moments.

Last night was just the beginning of something special with  Martinez stepping up big in clutch moments in the postseason.