Holt is the Hero With Clutch Three-Run Home Run
Red Sox manager John Farrell knows he has to find ways to get the versatile Brock Holt into the lineup, and Holt rewarded his manager’s decision to start him Friday night in Baltimore by hitting a three-run home run to break a 4-4 tie in the top of the eighth inning. The Red Sox held on to win 7-5.
Holt, now hitting .424 with an OPS of 1.017 this season, capitalized on a mistake by Orioles third baseman Manny Machado, who missed a ground ball off the bat of Allen Craig with two out and a runner on first in the eighth. Holt’s blast was the third dinger of the night for the Red Sox, as David Ortiz and Hanley Ramirez went back to back in the fifth inning to provide the Sox with their first four runs.
Holt started at shortstop and moved to left field in the ninth inning after Xander Bogaerts pinch ran for Hanley Ramirez and took his usual place in the field. Junichi Tazawa gave up a solo home run to Chris Davis in the bottom of the eighth, but Koji Uehara slammed the door shut in the ninth inning for his third save of the season.
Rick Porcello got off to a hot start and struck out the first five Orioles he faced, but wound up being charged with four runs in six innings of work. He also served up his sixth home run allowed this season, which is the most in the league at this point.
To comment, please create a screen name in your profile
To comment, please verify your email address
Conversation
This discussion has ended. Please join elsewhere on Boston.com