And yes, it was once again Hanley Ramirez doing the work. It was his first start since April 2014 that he allowed three home runs. “They know that I’m working hard every day and giving everything that I’ve got on the field, and it’s what I’m supposed to do”. “I was going along pretty good through the first three (innings)”.
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The shortstop-turned-outfielder-first baseman launched three two-run homers while wearing a ’70s-style pullover. That swelled the Red Sox’ lead to eight as Jackie Bradley Jr, Sandy Leon, Brock Holt and Mookie Betts ambushed Suarez with three doubles and a triple.
And Ramirez was the biggest reason why.
“Everything went right today”, he said.
Boston shortstop Xander Bogaerts gave fans a scare after Pena’s throw from third to first hit him in the helmet while running out his fourth-inning single.
After being traded to the Red Sox from the Padres last Thursday, he made his debut Wednesday night at Fenway Park against his former division-rival, the Giants.
Ramirez also reached base when he was hit by a pitch in the fourth, glowering at Giants reliever Albert Suarez before the umpire quickly warned both benches. Matt Barnes came on for Layne, and manager John Farrell rode him for three pressure-packed innings. The Minnesota Twins offense has been crushing as of late, and they’ve won five straight games when scoring more than three runs. He ended the inning striking out No. 8 hitter Trevor Brown looking at a 92-mph fastball. With one out and David Ortiz up, Ortiz singled to right field putting a man on for Ramirez who had already cranked two home runs on the night.
“I think every kid growing up, playing in Fenway would like to hit a ball over the Green Monster”, Williamson said. “It was definitely a special feeling rounding the bases”.
San Francisco’s Ramiro Pena and Denard Span had RBI singles in the fifth to make it a one-run game.
With the bases loaded and no outs in sixth, Bochy pulled Williamson in favor of Gregor Blanco. “It didn’t play out”, Bochy said.
NOTES: Boston placed RHP Koji Uehara (right pectoral strain) on the 15-day disabled list after he got hurt Tuesday.
Barnes threw strikes, attacked hitters and returned the game to some normalcy while the Red Sox got things stabilized.
“I was ready”, Cain said.
The results certainly didn’t look that way.
The Red Sox showed off their new starting pitcher, but it was their relentless offense and a patchwork bullpen that lifted Boston to an 11-7 win over San Francisco – and first place in the AL East – Wednesday night at Fenway Park.
Martin hit a two-run drive in the second inning.
Ultimately, Ramirez’ night would be more about the bat than anything else, but he certainly did his part in keeping runs off the board early as well.
Rodriguez then made a throwing error and appeared to be shaken up, but after a conference at the mound he stayed in and allowed a two-run shot by Rosario. “I had some good breaking balls and a lot of fastballs were good”.
“I made two mistakes right down the middle to Hanley”, Cain said. They left 11 runners on base, including at least one in each of the first seven innings. “We just can’t seem to keep the ball in the ballpark”.
In his first start for the Red Sox, Pomeranz was fine – for the first three innings. The Red Sox had five homers in the game – Sandy Leon added a solo shot – after getting two in a 4-0 win Tuesday. With the crowd chanting Ramirez’s name for his final at-bat in the eighth, he grounded out weakly to the pitcher. It’s been done 16 times, most recently by Josh Hamilton for Texas in 2012.
Whatever the reason, this is not what the Red Sox, who gave up one of their top pitching prospects to acquire Pomeranz, were hoping to see.
The Giants (57-38) and Red Sox do not travel in the same circles, but there was plenty of familiarity in this rare interleague matchup. It was boosted by many in Giants orange, matching the 1978-82 throwback jerseys worn by the team; Boston wore the tops from its 1975 World Series team. He did homer at Fenway Park on Wednesday – “it’s a dream come true”, he said – but didn’t get the at-bat that could have completed the comeback. “It makes me a better player when I get hit because I get so angry”.
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Ramirez and Cain also were well acquainted, having tangled 55 times over their careers with Cain allowing two home runs.
