Red Sox: J.D. Martinez’s clutch hitting extends streak

J.D. Martinez comes through in the clutch for the Red Sox

Not even a lengthy rain delay can stall the momentum of J.D. Martinez. The veteran designated hitter came through with a pair of hits to fuel the Boston Red Sox to a victory at Fenway Park in a rematch of the 2021 ALCS against the Houston Astros.

Martinez singled to right field with one out in the fourth inning, moving Enrique Hernandez into scoring position. While Martinez would end up being wiped out on a fielder’s choice later in the inning, his base hit helped set up Hernandez to score the first run of the game.

The single extended Martinez’s major league-leading hitting streak to 17 games. He has recorded multiple hits in eight of those games, including four of his last five. Martinez has collected three home runs and eight doubles during this stretch.

Martinez has reached base safely at least once in every game this season. His 33 game on-base streak dating back to last season is the longest of his career. The last Red Sox hitter to reach base safely in their first 27 games of a season was Wade Boggs in 1983, per ESPN. Martinez has now topped him by making it 28 games to open this season.

The skies opened up in the sixth inning of a tie game, prompting the grounds crew to drag out the tarp for a 98-minute rain delay. Those who stuck around through the delay were treated to a thrilling finish.

Hernandez led off the bottom of the eighth with a double down the left field line. Martinez broke the tie by chasing in Hernandez with a double into the gap in left-center field that skipped to the wall.

Despite getting on base every game, Martinez is nowhere near the league-leaders in runs scored. His 14 runs are only fourth on the team and tied for 41st in the American League.

The Red Sox wouldn’t leave him stranded this time. As the remaining crowd at Fenway chanted “Re-sign Xander,” Bogaerts delivered a two-run homer to tack on the insurance runs that sealed the victory.

The eighth-inning rally came against Astros reliever Hector Neris, who entered the game with a 0.56 ERA. He had only allowed one earned run and the home run by Bogaerts was the first Neris has allowed all season. Opponents had only managed one hit against Neris this month prior to his meltdown against the Red Sox.

During NESN’s postgame show, Martinez credited the Fenway Faithful for enduring the weather long enough to give the team a boost late in the game.

"“I think the fans, honestly,” Martinez responded when Jahmai Webster asked how he maintained his focus to remain locked in following the rain delay. “I feel like they’re rowdier after the rain delays.”"

The home crowd hasn’t been enough to lift the Red Sox this season. Boston had lost their last five games at Fenway heading into last night. They are now 5-9 in home games this season. A win over the AL West-leading Astros, who had won 12 of their previous 13 games, could be a turning point.

This team has undoubtedly struggled all season but the blame can’t be pinned on their top trio of hitters. Xander Bogaerts (.346), Rafael Devers (.322) and Martinez (.321) all rank in the top-five in the AL in batting average.

Boston needs to count on more than those three stars if they are going to pile up more wins. One thing they can count on is that Martinez will keep hitting. The 34-year-old is still among the best bats in the game and his current hitting streak is grabbing our attention.