BOSTON — Red Sox first baseman Hanley Ramirez went hitless in a five-game slump from Aug. 5 through Aug. 10, but he has bounced back in a major way with four hits and eight RBI over the last two games.
Ramirez slugged two three-run homers Friday night in a 9-4 win over the Arizona Diamondbacks at Fenway Park. They were his 15th and 16th home runs of the season.
It also was Ramirez’s 20th career multi-homer game, and his first since July 20 of this season when he blasted three against the San Francisco Giants.
Both of Ramirez’s homers came at the expense of Arizona pitcher Patrick Corbin. Ramirez’s success against Corbin wasn’t a huge surprise, considering he entered the game with an .857 career slugging percentage against the Diamondbacks starter.
“A big night by (Hanley) and David (Ortiz) set the tone offensively, and particularly with the way the first inning unfolded,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “… It was good to answer right back and spread it open.”
Ramirez left Thursday night’s game after colliding with New York Yankees catcher Gary Sanchez, and he credited the medical staff for getting him ready for Friday’s contest.
Here are some other notes from Boston’s win.
— David Ortiz continued his own success at the plate with three hits, three runs scored and two RBI. One of those hits was his 26th home run of the season, which leads the team. That blast was his 1,000th extra-base hit with the Red Sox.
The home run also gave him 11 seasons of 90-plus RBI. His 90 RBI rank second in the American League, five behind Toronto Blue Jays slugger Edwin Encarnacion.
To read Ortiz’s comments on reaching yet another Red Sox milestone, click here.
— Red Sox starter David Price picked up his 10th win of the season. He went eight innings and gave up three earned runs, while also striking out eight and walking one.
“You can never underestimate what a win does for a starting pitcher,” Farrell said. “It kind of signifies their work. The team win is most important, but for a starting pitcher to log a win, you can allow him to relax, gain some confidence.
“He’s pitched much better, I think at times than the record indicates. Yes, there’s been some hiccups along the way, but tonight was eight strong innings, a lot of strikes. I thought he mixed his four pitches in very effectively tonight. … On a night we needed a deep start, he gave it to us.”
— Also of note, Price now is the American League leader in innings pitched at 163 and 2/3. He passed Detroit Tigers starter Justin Verlander.
— Red Sox second baseman Dustin Pedroia exited the game after the second inning. Aaron Hill moved to second base and Travis Shaw came in to play third base. Pedroia’s reason for leaving was flu-like symptoms, according to the Red Sox.
— The Diamondbacks made two errors, both in the first inning. They entered the game with the worst defensive efficiency (.682) in the major leagues.
— Arizona starter Patrick Corbin had a horrendous night on the mound. He allowed eight runs (four earned) and nine hits in just 1 and 2/3 innings pitched.
— Red Sox starter Steven Wright is making “substantial improvement,” according to Farrell. Full update here.
— Red Sox legend Luis Tiant and his wife, Maria, celebrated their 55th Friday and received a nice ovation from the Fenway crowd during the fifth inning.
Thumbnail photo via Bob DeChiara/USA TODAY Sports Images
