BOSTON - It had been 138 at-bats between home runs for Pablo Sandoval before he hit his first of the season (and first with the Red Sox) on Sunday.
He only had to wait one more at-bat before his second of the season.
Sandoval connected for a solo home run in the bottom of the fourth inning Monday night in the Red Sox' 6-5 walk-off win over the Blue Jays.
But the home run was the third notable thing he did in the game.
Let's go back to the first inning, where with two men on base, Sandoval roped a single to left field that scored both runs and cut the Blue Jays lead to 3-2.
In the top of the fourth inning, with the Blue Jays looking to do some damage having already scored one run in the inning, Sandoval charged the plate on a sacrifice bunt attempt by Dalton Pompey. As the bunt was popped into the air, Sandoval dove to make the catch - but face-planted in the process. The catch kept runners on first and second, and in the next at-bat, Jose Reyes grounded into the inning-ending double play.
Sandoval would stay in the game until the top of the 6th, but was then removed from the game after experiencing whiplash from the catch.
Boston Red Sox
"He's in one of those hot streaks right now," John Farrell said. "He's swinging the bat well -- hard hit balls to all fields. On the diving bunt play there was a little bit of a whiplash, type of movement, injury-type of thing. He started to tighten up as the game went along. We're hopeful he will be ready to go tomorrow. We'll check him when he comes in."
Sandoval said after the game that he's OK and expects to play Tuesday. Taking him out was more precautionary.
"I feel great. After I came out from defense, hit, went on defense again and I couldn't turn to the right side," Sandoval said. "So that's what I worried about a little bit."
It's a good thing that it's nothing serious, because if Sandoval has found a bit of power, he could really go on a tear. He's already been locked in against right-handed pitchers, batting a whopping .392 this season. He now has seven RBI over his last three games, too.
"He's just an outstanding fastball hitter," Farrell said. "He can hit pitches in so many different areas. We know that [Aaron] Sanchez tries to finish hitters off with that fastball that runs back in, particularly on left-handers. Doesn't quite get to the spot and he's able to turn it around -- mid-to-upper 90s. [Sunday] in Baltimore a couple of really good swings. He's in a comfortable place."
There was some thought that Sandoval would have trouble adjusting to the baseball culture here in Boston. But that doesn't seem to be the case so far, anyways. He's been working in the batting cage with hitting coaches Chili Davis and Victor Rodriguez, and taking their advice up at the plate.
"It's the same game," Sandoval said. "You have to make adjustments a little bit but you have to keep playing ball the right way. Those are things that I worry about and I try to do everything out there for my team."