Stepping Up

Andrew Benintendi's three-run homer over the Green Monster capped the Red Sox five-run 4th inning explosion on Memorial Day. They rolled to an 8-3 victory over the Blue Jays and extended their lead on the Yankees to two games.
Hitting leadoff with Mookie Betts out injured, the second year outfielder cleared Fenway Park's signature wall for the first time in his career. He was joined in the Red Sox power chart by JD Martinez (below), who smacked his 17th homer. So far, in his first Boston season, the former Astro, Tiger and Diamondback is far outperforming Giancarlo Stanton the archrival Yankees' winter key acquisition. And with a .320 batting average, Martinez is proving to a lot more than a one-dimensional player.
(The image of Benintendi is from a Yankees/Red Sox game last August; I captured Martinez during the March 7th Red Sox/Twins exhibition at Fenway South in Fort Myers.)

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