BOSTON -- One solo home run, and J.D. Martinez slipped away unnoticed from the media after the Red Sox defeated the Blue Jays, 6-2, in the 10th inning on Saturday at Fenway Park.
That's what happens when Xander Bogaerts hits a walk off grand slam -- and when Martinez homers as often as he does.
Martinez crushed his 29th home run against the Blue Jays on Saturday, tied with Cleveland's Jose Ramirez for the most in baseball.
"I think everyone expects [Martinez] to hit one every single game," second baseman Brock Holt said. "Obviously that's not going to happen, but it feels like more times than not, he's doing it."
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"J.D., he can pretty much book a homer," Bogaerts said. "It's been amazing to see, to be a part of. I mean, [Martinez and Mookie Betts] are having two historic seasons."
With the game scoreless in the fourth inning, Martinez drilled the payoff pitch from Sam Gaviglio over the Green Monster to give Boston a lead that lasted until the seventh inning.
The hit had a 101-mph exit velocity and traveled 389 feet, according to Statcast™. It was Martinez's 19th home run at Fenway Park this season.
Martinez had just 14 home runs at this time last year, and he finished 2017 with a career-high 45. He has attributed his use of analytics to his success, and his meticulous preparation has been a source of inspiration for the rest of the Red Sox's lineup.
"He's pretty special to have in the middle of the order, in the middle of the lineup," Holt said. "He makes everyone around him better, and to have that presence in the middle of the lineup, knowing that he's coming up, it kind of relieves some pressure off a lot of guys."