Francona Enjoying Victor Martinez’s Early Impact

In his first day on the job, he was asked to bat third for a team battling the New York Yankees for first place. On Day 2, he was asked to catch Clay Buchholz, a timid young hurler with a boatload of potential.

Sure enough, on both days, Victor Martinez answered the call.

The Sox’ prized pickup enjoyed his offensive coming out party as a member of the Red Sox on Sunday with a five-hit, four-RBI performance against the O’s while catching all nine frames for four different Red Sox hurlers.

“We wanted him to get comfortable with our staff — not necessarily all in one game,” Terry Francona joked after the Red Sox’ 18-10 win. “He did a great job, there was a lot thrown at him today — offensively we saw what he can do and he seems very excited in his new surroundings.”