Boston Red Sox thrash Yankees to open series: 3 sluggers who shined

The Boston Red Sox highlighted the start of a huge four-game series with a 15-7 thrashing of the New York Yankees at Fenway Park Thursday night.

There was only one word to describe the Boston Red Sox offense Thursday night in the 15-7 victory over the New York Yankees and that word is relentless.

After basically going silent in the previous two-game series against the Philadelphia Phillies, the Sox hitters woke up in a major way against the Pinstripes with the 15 runs.

Highlighted in Thursday night’s offensive performance was a three-homer night by Steve Pearce, one of the recent trade additions.

While Red Sox starter Brian Johnson struggled on the mound despite getting the win, the offense picked him up on a night in which the team extended their lead over the Yankees in the American League East to 6 ½ games.

Falling down 4-0 through the first two innings, the Red Sox battled back relentlessly.

Sparked by a two-run shot by Pearce (the first of his three homers) in the third to cut the lead to 4-2, the veteran first baseman gave the team the lead with the three-run blast the next inning.

Speaking of the fourth inning, the Red Sox bats exploded for 8 runs in that inning. Not only was it a knockout punch in the series opener, it has the Yankees bouncing off the ropes and desperate for a counter punch in this heavy weight fight for the AL East crown.

“Relentless,” Cora said of the fourth inning explosion following the game.  “That was probably our best offensive inning of the season, and we’ve had some good ones.  Running, taking pitches, hitting the ball hard, putting the ball in play with men in scoring position, putting the ball in play with men at third and less than two outs – all around, it was good.”

With the win, the Boston Red Sox not only extended their lead over the Yankees but extended their record to 76-34.  Most importantly, they did it with their bats on a night when the pitching struggled.

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Here are three sluggers who really shined in the 15-7 win.

J.D. Martinez is better than Giancarlo Stanton 

Who would’ve thought that J.D. Martinez would turn out to be a better option than Giancarlo Stanton.

Well, the Boston Red Sox that’s who.

Opting to ease out of the Stanton sweepstakes in favor or Martinez is paying off big time this season and it showed on Thursday night.  The league leader in home runs didn’t bash one over the wall, but his presence was felt by New York Yankees pitching.

Martinez added to the 19-hit onslaught with a single and two doubles.  Although players such as Andrew Benintendi (three RBI) and newcomer Ian Kinsler (two RBI) had more productive nights, the Red Sox slugger was a major catalyst in that production as he has been consistently all season long.

Just like the next slugger who shined Thursday night.

Mookie Betts is one tough out

C.C. Sabathia said Mookie Betts was one of the toughest outs in the Boston Red Sox lineup and he was certainly proved that.

Betts went 4-for-4 on Thursday night reaching base six times.

In reaching base six times, Betts also scored three runs and added a stolen base.  As a leading MVP candidate, the Red Sox right fielder continues to show he can impact games in multiple ways.  He also shows how much of a factor he is when he is not in the lineup.

With Betts not in the lineup the game prior against the Phillies, the Red Sox struggled to get anything going.  Throw him back in the lineup and the team has a 15-run output and drives a pitcher like Sabathia out of the game.

A tough out?  Absolutely.

The most satisfying aspect of how Mookie Betts is performing this season is how clutch he has become against the New York Yankees.  Let’s see more of it throughout the weekend series.

Yes, Steve Pearce did that

The Boston Red Sox didn’t make any significant moves ahead of the non-waiver MLB Deadline on July 31, but it appears they have picked up a minor piece that will make major contributions.

When the Sox acquired Steve Pearce in a trade from the Toronto Blue Jays, it was considered a depth move, but on Thursday night it turned into a major move.

With his three-homer performance against the Yankees at Fenway Park, the veteran slugger joined Kevin Millar and Mo Vaughn as the only players to do so against the heated rivals.

While the first home got the team back in the game, his second homer of the night put the team on top for good.  As unexpected as it was, the power display by Steve Pearce was a night the Red Sox fans who attended the game won’t soon forget as they roared him rounding the bases after this third homer.  Neither will he.

"“It’s a night I’m never going to forget, to see the fans do that,” Pearce said.  “It’s a great feeling, a feeling I’ll never forget, especially when you get home and see all your teammates there ready for you.  To be able to celebrate with them is a great feeling.”"

It’s also been great having a player like Pearce on the team.  A hungry veteran looking to win, the first baseman is hitting .358 with five doubles, four homers and 12 RBI.  More than what he is giving the team on the field is the energy he has brought to the clubhouse.

He could turn out to be the Kevin Millar of this 2018 Boston Red Sox team.