J.D. falls short in global Triple Crown chase
Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez ranked among the Major League leaders in batting average, home runs and RBIs. The last player to lead the Majors in all three categories in the same season was Mickey Mantle, who batted .353 with 52 homers and 130 RBIs for the Yankees in 1956.
• Every Triple Crown winner in MLB history
Before the Tigers' Miguel Cabrera broke a 45-year drought in 2012, there hadn't been a Triple Crown winner since Hall of Famer Carl Yastrzemski pulled off the feat for the 1967 Red Sox.
Here is a day-by-day look at Martinez's Triple Crown chase, going back to Sept. 1. For each Triple Crown category, Martinez's MLB rank is listed:
Sept. 30 vs. NYY
*Stats: *.330 (2nd), 42 HRs (2nd), 130 RBIs (1st)
Went 2-for-3 with three RBIs and two runs scored.
AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .346
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 48
RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 123
*Sept. 29 vs. NYY
*Stats: *.329 (2nd), 42 HRs (2nd), 127 RBIs (1st)
Went 0-for-2 with two strikeouts.
AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .346
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 47
RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 121
*Sept. 28 vs. NYY
*Stats: *.330 (2nd), 42 HRs (2nd), 127 RBIs (1st)
Went 1-for-4 with a single.
AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .346
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 47
RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 121
*Sept. 26 DH vs. BAL
*Stats: *.330 (2nd), 42 HRs (2nd), 127 RBIs (1st)
Only played in Game 1 and went 3-for-5 with a homer, three RBIs and three runs scored.
AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .347
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 47
RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 121
*Sept. 25 (Red Sox rained out)
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .343
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 46
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 120
**Sept. 24 vs. BAL
J.D.'s line:** 0-for-2, 2 BB
Struck out twice, but the Red Sox beat the Orioles, 6-2, to secure MLB's best regular-season record and home-field advantage throughout the postseason.
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .343
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 46
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 120
**Sept. 23 at CLE
J.D.'s line: **Did not play
The Red Sox lost to the Indians in 11 innings for the second night in a row at Progressive Field, and while Martinez did not play, Betts had a big night, going 4-for-6 to improve his batting average by four points.
Stats: *.329 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .343
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 45
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 119
**Sept. 22 at CLE
J.D.'s line: **1-for-4, single, walk
The Red Sox lost to the Indians in 11 innings at Progressive Field, and while Betts did not play, Martinez lost a point to his teammate in the race for the highest batting average in the Majors.
Stats: *.329 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .339
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 45
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 119
**Sept. 21 at CLE
J.D.'s line:** 0-for-2, 2 BB
Boston won for the 105th time this season, and as Betts got a day off, Martinez had a chance to pick up some ground on his teammate, but was unable to do so. He lost a point to Betts by going 0-for-2.
Stats: *.330 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .339
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 45
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 119
**Sept. 20 at NYY
J.D.'s line:** 1-for-4, single, RBI, walk
In a division-clinching victory over the Yankees, Martinez opened the scoring with an RBI single in the first inning at Yankee Stadium. That was his only hit of the game, however, while Betts went 4-for-5 to open up an eight-point lead over Martinez in batting average.
Stats: *.331 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 124 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .339
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 43
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 116
**Sept. 19 at NYY
J.D.'s line:** 3-for-3, three singles
Though the Red Sox lost, 10-1, and again were unable to clinch the AL East at Yankee Stadium, Martinez gained on teammate Betts in the batting average department, as Betts went 0-for-4 with a walk to drop three points, while Martinez's three hits upped his average by three points.
Stats: *.331 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 123 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .334
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 43
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 115
**Sept. 18 at NYY
J.D.'s line: **1-for-3, triple, RBI
Starting in right field in Betts' place, Martinez picked up his first RBI in five days with a third-inning sacrifice fly and later knocked his second triple of the season as the Yankees topped the Red Sox, 3-2.
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 123 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .337
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 43
RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 115
*Sept. 17 (Red Sox off-day)
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 122 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .337
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 43
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 115
**Sept. 16 vs. NYM
J.D.'s line:** Did not play
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 122 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .337
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 43
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 115
**Sept. 15 vs. NYM
J.D.'s line:** 0-for-5, no RBIs
Martinez had his worst game in a while, striking out three times for the first time since Aug. 5 and leaving six runners on base. But the Red Sox still beat the Mets, 5-3.
Stats: *.328 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 122 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .338
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 42
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 111
**Sept. 14 vs. NYM
J.D.'s line:** 1-for-2, BB, no RBIs
Martinez singled but didn't have any RBI opportunities as Noah Syndergaard pitched seven shutout innings as the Red Sox offense fell quiet in an 8-0 loss.
Stats: *.331 (2nd), 41 HRs (2nd), 122 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .339
*HR leader: Khris Davis, 42
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 111
**Sept. 13 vs. TOR
J.D.'s line:** 2-for-4, HR, RBI
Martinez launched his 41st home run of the season in Boston's 4-3 victory over Toronto at Fenway Park, a solo shot in the second inning.
Stats: *.330 (2nd), 41 HRs (T-1st), 122 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .340
*HR leader: Martinez; Khris Davis
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 110
**Sept. 12 vs. TOR
J.D.'s line:** 0-for-3, BB, no RBIs
Martinez was hitless and didn't add to his RBI total, but the Red Sox won their 100th game of the season in a 1-0 victory at Fenway Park.
*Stats: *.329 (2nd), 40 HRs (2nd), 121 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .340
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 41
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 110
**Sept. 11 vs. TOR
J.D.'s line:** 1-for-4, no HRs or RBIs
Martinez managed just a single in the eighth inning, but the Red Sox came from behind to beat the Jays, 7-2, and clinched a postseason berth for the third consecutive season.
Stats: *.331 (2nd), 40 HRs (2nd), 121 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .340
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 41
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 109
*Sept. 10 (Red Sox off-day)
*Stats: *.331 (2nd), 40 HRs (2nd), 121 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .342
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 41
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 108
**Sept. 9 vs. HOU
J.D.'s line:** 1-for-4, HR, 4 RBIs
Martinez scored Betts with a sac fly in the third, then he crushed a three-run shot in the fifth for his first home run of the month.
*Stats: *.331 (2nd), 40 HRs (2nd), 121 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .342
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 41
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 108
**Sept. 8 vs. HOU
J.D.'s line:** 0-for-5, no RBIs
*Stats: *.332 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 117 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .341
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 41
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 108
**Sept. 7 vs. HOU
J.D.'s line: *1-for-4, no HRs, 2 RBIs
*Stats: *.335 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 117 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .339
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 40
*RBI leader: **Martinez; K. Davis next with 106
Sept. 6 (Red Sox off-day)
*Stats: *.335 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
*AVG leader: *Mookie Betts, .335
*HR leader: *Khris Davis, 40
*RBI leader: *Martinez; K. Davis next with 106
Sept. 5 at ATL
J.D.'s line: Did not play
With no DH and the team having a day off on Sept. 6, Martinez was out of the lineup and essentially given two days off.
Stats: .335 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
AVG leader: Mookie Betts, .335
HR leader: Khris Davis, 40
RBI leader: Martinez; K. Davis next with 106
Sept. 4 at ATL
J.D.'s line: 1-for-4, no HRs or RBIs
Martinez's hit came with a man in scoring position, but Rick Porcello, an AL pitcher not used to running the bases, only advanced to third. That deprived Martinez of a potential RBI.
Stats: .335 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
AVG leader: Mookie Betts, .336
HR leader: Khris Davis, 40
RBI leader: Martinez; K. Davis next with 106
Sept. 3 at ATL
J.D.'s line: 1-for-4, no HRs or RBIs
It was a quiet game for Martinez. His only RBI chance came in the top of the ninth, when he batted with men on second and third and no one out, but he was issued an intentional walk before being double-switched out for closer Craig Kimbrel in the bottom of the ninth.
Stats: .336 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
AVG leader: Mookie Betts, .338
HR leader: Khris Davis, 40
RBI leader: Martinez; K. Davis next with 106
Sept. 2 at CWS
J.D.'s line: 2-for-3, no HRs or RBIs
Martinez walked and singled twice, getting a break when he had a blooper (64.1 mph exit velocity) drop in shallow right field in the ninth inning. On the other hand, Martinez also crushed a deep fly ball to center field in the third (98.5 mph exit velocity) that Chicago's Adam Engel hauled in on the warning track.
Stats: .337 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
AVG leader: Mookie Betts, .340
HR leader: Khris Davis, 40
RBI leader: Martinez; K. Davis next with 105
Sept. 1 at CWS
J.D.'s line: 2-for-4, no HRs, 1 RBI
Martinez smacked a pair of ground-ball singles back up the middle, the latter bringing home a run in the seventh inning.
Stats: .335 (2nd), 39 HRs (2nd), 115 RBIs (1st)
AVG leader: Mookie Betts, .340
HR leader: Khris Davis, 40
RBI leader: Martinez; K. Davis next with 105