BOSTON — Brock Holt is doing his job.
The Red Sox recalled Holt from Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday in the hopes he would spark the bottom third of Boston’s order. Holt has done that in each of his first two games, even ripping a game-winning triple in the Red Sox’s 4-2 victory over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday at Fenway Park.
“Prior to the recall, he had been swinging the bat extremely well in Pawtucket, so he was able to get on a little bit of a roll,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said after Saturday’s win. “What we’ve seen — I know it’s just two games — (is) he’s shown a little bit more authority with some ability to impact the baseball, particularly to the pull side. Last year, there was an approach that was more inside-out, and he does have that extra-base ability. He was doing it in Pawtucket, and it’s continued here.”
Holt was hitting .380 (19-for-50) with one homer, three RBIs and a .446 on-base percentage through 12 games with Pawtucket at the time of Friday’s call-up. While the sample size with Boston obviously is minuscule — he is 3-for-7 with two RBIs in two games — his energy already appears to be spreading.
“I love Brock. We’ve always had a lot of confidence in Brock,” Red Sox catcher David Ross said Saturday. “At the end of spring training, he was competing for a job and playing really well in spring, and (then) went down (to Triple-A) and played really well. Just waiting for his opportunity — that’s what the good young guys do — and he’s coming through for us and it’s huge. He’s a good guy in clubhouse, fun guy to be around.
“I was talking a little trash to him before the game today, (saying) ‘Forget yesterday. Do something.’ And he did. So I’ll say it again tomorrow.”
It’s likely Holt will head back to Pawtucket when Will Middlebrooks returns from his calf injury — something that could happen as soon as next week. Holt said he’s not worried about that, however. Instead, the young infielder is focused on making an impression while he’s with the big league club.
Holt has made an impact both offensively and defensively since being recalled, but his biggest contribution came in the seventh inning Saturday. Just moments after the benches emptied following a brief alternation between the two teams, Holt lined an RBI triple into the right-center field gap to give the Red Sox a lead they wouldn’t relinquish.
“I probably could have gone 5-for-5 each day with five homers,” Holt said when asked if his first two games with Boston this season could have been scripted any better, “but that’s not going to happen. I’m not going to do that. I’m just happy to help any way that I can.”
