The Red Sox are having a grand ol’ time this season, especially in September.
Jarrod Saltalamacchia launched a grand slam in the seventh inning Friday to lift the Red Sox past the Yankees 8-4. Not only did it help Boston secure its 90th win of 2013, but it also continued a fascinating trend for the Red Sox’ offense.
Saltalamacchia’s grand slam was Boston’s eighth of the season, adding to an already MLB-best total. It marks the eighth time in franchise history that the Red Sox have hit at least eight grand slams in a season, and it’s the first time that they’ve hit eight slams in a season since 2005, when Boston smacked a team-record 11 grand salamis.
The Red Sox benefited from a game-winning grand slam in Wednesday’s game against the Rays as well. Mike Carp was responsible for those heroics in the 10th inning at Tropicana Field. Carp’s grand slam was the Red Sox’ first go-ahead grand slam since Aug. 5, 2010, when Adrian Beltre catapulted the Red Sox in front with a four-run blast versus the Indians. Who knew we’d later see the feat accomplished twice in three days?
For all of you Yankee haters out there, three of the Red Sox’ eight grand slams this season have come against the boys in pinstripes. It’s the Red Sox’ most versus the Bronx Bombers in a season since 1959 — when they also hit three. Overall, the Red Sox have scored 42 runs in their last four games against the Yankees, who are still very much in the thick of the American League wild card race, but also extremely flawed.
Perhaps the most impressive aspect of Boston’s grand slam onslaught is that four have come since Sept. 1 — Mike Napoli and Will Middlebrooks hit the other two. It’s the Red Sox’ most ever in a single September, and it ties the franchise’s all-time single-month record. The Red Sox last smacked four grand slams in a month in August 2001.
The Red Sox have 13 games left to build upon their impressive grand slam numbers. In other words, as grand as this season has been for Boston, the grand finale might still be coming.
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