Boston Red Sox: J.D. Martinez, Sox bats launching rockets at Fenway

The Boston Red Sox continued to torch New York Yankees pitching Saturday with a 9-5 victory led by the bat of J.D. Martinez.

The Boston Red Sox haven’t been themselves at Fenway Park much of the season, but they are finding their form in late July and taking advantage of their historic home field.

Led by a rocket of a home run off the bat of slugger J.D. Martinez, the Red Sox inched closer in the American League East and moved into the second AL Wild Card spot with a 9-5 victory over the New York Yankees Saturday.

Not only was it the third consecutive victory over the Bronx Bombers, it was the third straight game in which the Red Sox bats exploded.

Hitting is contagious

Following a three-homer performance by Mookie Betts, it was Martinez’s turn to flex his muscles.

With the team down 2-1 in the fourth inning, Martinez stepped to the plate following a Rafael Devers single and took C.C. Sabathia deep into the Green Monster seats with his 22nd homer of the season.

The rocket gave the Boston Red Sox a 3-2 lead at the time and once again demonstrated how tenacious this Sox lineup is when everyone is clicking and hitting, especially at Fenway Park.

"“We’re hitting the ball well.  We’re playing well right now,” J.D. Martinez said following the game.  “It’s been a good last two series.  But I don’t like to look too far into things.  Just gotta keep chugging away.  There’s till a lot of ground to make up and a lot of baseball to be played.”"

In an up-and-down season, the defending World Series champions have certainly been here before.  But now is the time they must sustain and maintain their winning ways to both secure a playoff spot and keep the New York Yankees looking over their shoulder.

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With the success they have had the last two series, it also changes their approach at the MLB Trade Deadline where they have gone from possible sellers (if they were even really going to be that) to definite buyers on the market for more pitching help.

The measuring stick

It further showed the Red Sox can battle with the Yankees.

Just ask Alex Cora, who has been preaching more consistent play out of his team all season long.

"“That we’re good just like them,” Cora said when asked what the last three games showed about the team.  “We have a good offense.  I think like I said yesterday, the lst two days, the difference between us now and earlier in the season is hitting with men in scoring position, putting good at-bats.”"

From three-homer games from the likes of Mookie Betts to 310-yard pop fly homer off the bat of Andrew Benintendi, the Boston Red Sox lineup is doing their thing and heating up hotter than the late July sun.

With J.D. Martinez and Mookie Betts now looking like the MVP candidates they were a season ago; the month of August may turn out to be a tumultuous one for opposing pitching staffs left on the schedule.