Editor’s note: NESN.com is going to tell the story of the 2012 Red Sox in Bobby Valentine’s words. Each game day, we will select the best Valentine quote that sums up the day for the Red Sox.
With two outs and a 1-2 count in the bottom of the ninth inning, Jarrod Saltalamacchia showed once again that he’s not afraid of the big moment.
Saltalamacchia blasted a two-run home run just over the Green Monster to tie things up for the Red Sox at 6-6 and send the game into extra innings. The home run may not have mattered after the Orioles plated a pair in the top of the 10th, but the catcher’s continued clutch ability is yet another sign of his growing confidence.
After belting a game-winning home run in the bottom of the ninth against the Rays back on May 26, the majority of Red Sox Nation was considering Salty’s homer to be more a stroke of luck than a calculated swing of genius. But if there any lingering doubt remained, Tuesday’s bomb should have cemented his presence.
Red Sox manager Bobby Valentine was very pleased with Saltalamacchia’s effort once again on Tuesday, but focused in on more than just the clutch home run in praising the Boston backstop.
“I think he’s gaining confidence in all aspects of his life and his game,” Valentine said after the 8-6 loss to Baltimore. “He exudes confidence. I think he goes to the mound and pitchers like what he has to say. The umpires respect him and he’s a confident player right now.”
Saltalamacchia’s confidence just seems to continue to blossom with each passing game, as the 27-year-old even hit fifth for the first time in his two-plus seasons with the Red Sox just last week.
Prior to Tuesday night’s outburst Saltalamacchia had been 0-for-8 in the month of June. But the catcher has been on a tear of late, hitting .345 with six home runs and 15 RBIs in the month of May and obviously continuing on that path once again on Tuesday.
Salty went 3-for-4 from the plate against Baltimore, belting not only his 11th home run of the season — best in the majors from the catcher position — but also hitting his 11th double and driving in his 26th and 27th runs of the year. He turned in an all-around impressive performance that even included calling a stellar game behind the plate, helping to calm down Jon Lester after a pair of early errors nearly sent his start into a tailspin.
The end result certainly wasn’t ideal for the Red Sox, as they fell back to just a game over .500 at 28-27, but Salty’s continued clutch ability may very well be the silver lining in this one.
