MLB Notebook: JD Martinez Claiming His Spot Among Red Sox Greats
From the offices of Major League Baseball
On Tuesday night against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre, Boston Red Sox All-Star designated hitter J.D. Martinez went3-for-5 with a double, one home run and four RBI to help Boston to 10-7 victory.
The right-handed-hitting slugger became the fifth player in franchise history to log 34-or-more homers in Boston's first 114 games of a season, joining David Ortiz (2006), Manny Ramirez (2001), Mo Vaughn (1996) and Hall of Famer Jimmie Foxx (1938).
Following Wednesday night's three-hit effort with a double and RBI, the Florida native joined infielder Matt Carpenter of the St. Louis Cardinals as the only players in the Majors this season to post at least 30 home runs and 30 doubles. With 98 RBI on the season, J.D. is just two RBI shy of becoming the ninth player in franchise history, and the fi rst since Ortiz in 2003, to record at least 30 home runs and 100 RBI in his first season with the Club.
Going into Thursday, Martinez, who signed with Boston this past off season, paces the Majors in home runs, RBI, slugging percentage (.654) and total bases (272). The two-time AL All-Star ranks second in batting average (.332), trailing his All-Star teammate Mookie Betts (.340) by eight points. Martinez is vying to become the 10th player (11th time) in AL history to win the prestigious Triple Crown Award
The nine AL Triple Crown winners are Miguel Cabrera (2012), and Hall of Famers Carl Yastrzemski (1967), Frank Robinson (1966), Mickey Mantle (1956), Ted Williams (1947, 1942),
Lou Gehrig (1934), Foxx (1933), Ty Cobb (1909) and Nap Lajoie (1901). Additionally, the eight-year-veteran is looking to join Mantle, Williams, Gehrig and Hall of Famer Rogers Hornsby
(1925) as the only players in MLB history to lead the Majors in batting average, home runs and RBI.
MLB Triple Crown Seasons
(And Martinez in 20018 through Wednesday)
| Player, Club | Year | BA | OBP | SLG | R | 2B | HR | RBI |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| J.D. Martinez, BOS | 2018 | .332 | .399 | .654 | 82 | 30 | 34 | 98 |
| Mickey Mantle, NYY | 1956 | .353 | .464 | .705 | 132 | 22 | 52 | 130 |
| Ted Williams | 1942 | .356 | .499 | .648 | 141 | 34 | 36 | 137 |
| Lou Gehrig, NYY | 1934 | .363 | .465 | .706 | 128 | 40 | 49 | 166 |
| Rogers Hornsby, StL | 1925 | .403 | .489 | .756 | 133 | 41 | 39 | 143 |
On Monday against the Minnesota Twins at Progressive Field, Cleveland Indians All-
Star starting pitcher Trevor Bauer tossed six shutout innings with 11 strikeouts,
limiting the Twins to just three hits.
With the outing, Bauer is tied with Chris Sale of the Boston Red Sox for the most double-digit strikeout performances this season (10).
The 27-year-old entered play today with 206 strikeouts, second in the AL to Sale, who has 207. Bauer reached the 200-strikeout total in 156 innings, second fewest in Indians hitory to teammate Corey Kluber, who did it in 147 innings en route to the 2017 Cy Young Award.
It was Bauer's 50th consecutive starts of four earned runs or fewer, the 10th American League pitcher to accomplish that since 1920, and the first since Vida Blue.
50 And Counting for Bauer
| Pitcher | Starts | Streak Dates | W-L | ERA | SO | Hits | Walks |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Jim Hannan | 81 | May 3, 1962-September 24, 1969 | 23-28 | 3.54 | 242 | 438 | 208 |
| Camilo Pascual | 72 | June 4, 1966-May 3, 1969 | 29-27 | 3.37 | 255 | 384 | 134 |
| Rickey Clark | 69 | April 30, 1967-June 20, 1972 | 18-30 | 3.09 | 215 | 308 | 189 |
| Jim Perry | 67 | July 31, 1965-September 11, 1968 | 27-22 | 2.53 | 266 | 389 | 125 |
| Tommy John | 59 | May 5, 1967-May 15, 1969 | 23-15 | 2.12 | 246 | 304 | 104 |
| Vida Blue | 57 | July 20, 1969-July 2, 1972 | 29-12 | 2.07 | 286 | 296 | 131 |
| Joe Horlen | 57 | 57 June 17, 1965-May 17 | 21-22 | 2.67 | 205 | 335 | 87 |
| Dave McNally | 55 | September 18, 1967-June 27, 1969 | 34-10 | 2.09 | 283 | 269 | 83 |
| John Buzhardt | 53 | August 31, 1962-May 16, 1965 | 23-14 | 2.69 | 191 | 294 | 82 |
| Trevor Bauer | 50 | May 8, 2017-Present | 26-12 | 2.89 | 370 | 272 | 104 |
And A Trip Around the Horn
HOME RUNS: The Braves hit three more home runs on Wednesday night, and now have hit 22 in 17 games since the All-Star Game. The club hit three in the fi nal nine games leading into the break. Entering play today, the Braves have hit 77 home runs on the road this season, tied for the fi fth-most in Baseball and 10 behind the St. Louis Cardinals for the most in the National League. The Braves have hit 1.28 home runs per road game this season.
YOU COMPLETE ME: Jameson Taillon of the Pittsburgh Pirates tossed his second complete game of the season on Tuesday night and the fi rst 9.0-inning complete game for an opponent at Coors Field since Clayton Kershaw on July 2, 2013. During the contest against Colorado, Jameson matched up against fellow testicular cancer survivor Chad Bettis. Taillon now shares the Major League-lead in complete games this season with José Berríos, Carlos Carrasco, Corey Kluber and James Paxton.
YOUTH MOVEMENT: All-Star second baseman Gleyber Torres and third baseman Miguel Andújar are the first pair of Yankees rookies to each hit at least 15 home runs in the same season. Torres ranks second among MLB rookies with 18 homers and Andújar is fourth with 15.
30/30: Infielder Matt Carpenter became the fi rst Major Leaguer this season to hit 30-or-more home runs and 30-or-more doubles, and the 13th diff erent Cardinal to reach the feat in franchise history (31st occurrence). The last Cardinal with 30 homers and 30 doubles was Albert Pujols in 2010 (42 HR, 39 2B), who reached the milestone in 10 consecutive seasons from 2001-10.
FREE WILLY: At 22 years, 339 days, Tampa Bay Rays shortstop Willy Adames became the fi fth player in franchise history to hit a walk-off home run before his 23rd birthday, joining Jake Bauers (June 24, 2018), Evan Longoria (2008), Delmon Young (2007) and Carl Crawford (2003).
While Adames (22.339) and Bauers (22.261) have both hit walk-off homers for the Rays, only two other players in the Majors this season have hit a walkoff home run before their 23rd birthday: Atlanta's Ozzie Albies (21.169) on June 25th vs. Cincinnati and Gleyber Torres (21.144) of the Yankees on May 6th vs. Cleveland.
STREAKING: Jacob deGrom of the New York Mets has held opponents to three runs-or-less in 19 straight starts, the second-longest single-season streak in franchise history. Dwight Gooden had a 24-game streak during his Cy Young Award-winning 1985 season. DeGrom has hurled 14 straight quality starts, the longest active streak in the Majors and the longest single-season streak since Johan Santana had 14 consecutive quality starts from July 22-September 27, 2008.
SAY WHAT?: Los Angeles Angels designated hitter/pitcher Shohei Ohtani is the fi rst player in MLB history to hit at least 10 home runs and tally 50-or-more pitching strikeouts in the same season. He is just the third player in Baseball history with 12 home runs & four wins in a season joining Jimmy Ryan (1888 White Stockings) and Hall of Famer Babe Ruth (1919 Red Sox).
20/20/20/20/20 VISION: On Tuesday night, Chicago White Sox fi rst baseman José Abreu became the 18th player in Major League history to hit at least 20 home runs in each of his first five seasons, and the first player in White Sox franchise history. Hall of Famers Eddie Murray (1977-81), Ted Williams (1939-42, 1946) and Joe DiMaggio (1936-40), as well as Pete Incaviglia (1986-90), and Tony Conigliaro (1964-69), are the only players to accomplish the feat exclusively in the American League.
OUR BÁE: Infielder Javier Báez is already just the third diff erent Cubs player in franchise history to reach 30 doubles, five triples, 25 homers and 15 stolen bases in a single season, joining Hall of Famer Ryne Sandberg (1985 and 1992) and Alfonso Soriano (2007).
HAIL, HAIL: Texas Rangers third baseman Adrián Beltré hit his 468th career home run on Tuesday night, matching Hall of Famer Chipper Jones for 33rd on the all-time list. Among players to appear primarily at third base in their career, the 468 homers by Beltré and Jones rank tied for third all-time to only Hall of Famers Mike Schmidt (548) and Eddie Mathews (512).
BELIEVE IT: Friday night marked the 150th game of Philadelphia Phillies first baseman Rhys Hoskins’ young career. His .938 career OPS (648 plate appearances) through 150 career contests is the second-best mark among all Phillies players dating to 1900, trailing only Hall of Famer Chuck Klein (1.041 OPS).
CRUZ CONTROL: Nelson Cruz belted his 30th home run of the season on Tuesday night, becoming the third Mariners player in Club history with at least four seasons of at least 30 home runs. He joins Hall of Famer Ken Griffey Jr. (1993-94, ’96-99) and Alex Rodriguez (1996, ’98-2000). Cruz and Griffey are the only Mariners to post four consecutive seasons of 30-or-more home runs.
COUNTDOWN TO 8,000: Oakland A's outfi elder Khris Davis hit the 7,995th home run in Oakland history on Tuesday night, leaving the A’s five short of 8,000 total homers since moving to Oakland in 1968. Only five teams have hit 8,000 home runs dating back to 1968: the New York Yankees, the Baltimore Orioles, the Detroit Tigers, the Boston Red Sox and the Texas Rangers.
HIT TO THE NINES: With three more hits this season, Starlin Castro will reach the 130-hit mark for the ninth time in his Major League career. He would become the sixth player who debuted in the last 20 years to record 130-or-more hits in each of his fi rst nine Major League seasons, joining Carlos Lee (1999-2012), Robinson Canó (2005-17), Ichiro Suzuki (2001-13), Albert Pujols (2001-12) and Mark Teixeira (2003-11).
WELL TRAVELED: Houston Astros relief pitcher Héctor Rondón has been scoreless in all 22 of his road appearances this season (21.1IP), which is the third-longest road scoreless appearance streak in Astros history. Dating back to his time with the Cubs, he has not allowed a run in 27 consecutive road games since August 27, 2017 (25.1IP), which is the longest active streak in the Majors.
40 & 150: All-Star second baseman Scooter Gennett is one of only fi ve players since 1968 to produce at least 40 home runs and 150 RBI in his fi rst two seasons with the Redlegs, joining Brandon Phillips (2006-07), Hall of Famer Ken Griff ey Jr. (2000-01), Dave Parker (1984-85) and Hall of Famer Joe Morgan (1972-73). He is the only player to accomplish the feat while batting at least .300.