BOSTONRed Sox batters continued to shred Rays pitching Saturday afternoon, pounding out 13 runs on 15 hits including five home runs.
Down 4-0 after the first inning, the Sox chipped away at the Rays lead, starting with Jarrod Saltalamacchia's first home run of the season, a blast to straightaway center field, and capping out off with eight combined runs in the seventh and eighth innings.
Every batter in the Sox starting lineup except Darnell McDonald had at least one hit, led by David Ortiz, who went 4-for-5 with two runs scored and five RBI, and Mike Aviles, who went 3-for-5 with two runs scored and an RBI.
Ortiz, Aviles, Cody Ross, and Jarrod Saltalamacchia each hit their first home runs of the season, while Dustin Pedroia got his second.
Ryan Sweeney went 1-for-4, with a run scored. He is hitting .400, and has hit safely in his first seven games of the season.
I think the biggest hit of the day was Saltys homer, Aviles said. Were down 4-0 and he cut the deficit in half. But in all honestly, 4-0 with this kind of offense, we know that we can score four runs, especially early in ether game like that. Its just a matter of keep plugging away, get a run here, get a run there.
In the first two games of the four-game series against the Rays, the Sox have scored double-digit runs while recording double-digit hits. They have scored 25 runs in their first two home games, compared to 22 total runs in six road games to start the season.
We got a good-hitting team, Saltalamacchia said. We never shied away from that. Were just trying to see a lot of pitches, trying to get back to what weve done well, which is see pitches and trying to put a good at-bat together. Its a dangerous lineup.
It was the second straight shellacking the Sox gave the Raysand the first time the Sox have won two straight games since taking a doubleheader from the Rays on Aug. 27. It was the first time the Sox have won consecutive home games against the Rays since taking four straight form May 10Sept. 13, 2009.
The Sox entered the game with just two home runs as a team in the first seven games of the season. The five home runs were the most theyve hit in a game since bashing six against the Orioles on July 7.
The Sox entered the series hitting just .236. After the first two games they had raised that mark 48 points to .284. In Saturdays game, they went 15-for-37, with 10 extra-base hits, six walks and four strikeouts.
Michael had a very good game, manager Bobby Valentine said. He was determined to do well and he did a good job no doubt. David was terrific. And dont forget Salty was struggling a little and get us the big toe runs early. Team effort no doubt. Great job, never stopping. Proud of them. They should be proud of themselves.