Bill Koch

Wednesday

Sep 26, 2018 at 9:18 PM

BOSTON — With their playoff future secure and most of their significant team milestones already out of the way, the Red Sox got around to settling some personal business on Wednesday afternoon at Fenway Park.

Mookie Betts, J.D. Martinez, Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Andrew Benintendi each celebrated their own individual achievements as Boston swatted aside the Orioles in the opener of the day-night doubleheader. It was an offensive barrage that saw the Red Sox match their season high in runs scored, a 19-3 bludgeoning of Baltimore with unseasonably warm sunshine breaking through the clouds and rain that forced Tuesday’s postponement.

Betts became just the second player in franchise history to reach 30 home runs and 30 stolen bases in the same season. His theft of second base in the second inning was the highlight of an abbreviated 2-for-2 day, with Betts doubling and scoring a run in just three at-bats. Jacoby Ellsbury’s 2011 season in which he cracked 32 homers and swiped 39 bags had been the only such campaign produced by a Red Sox player to date.

“It’s a special accomplishment,” Betts said. “I don’t know how much it means, but I guess to have your name as part of a group like that is pretty cool. I just try to do what I can to win the game.”

Martinez launched his 42nd homer in the fourth, a three-run shot that carried over the Green Monster and onto Lansdowne Street. It ties a club record in a Boston debut, with Dick Stuart launching the same total of round-trippers in 1963. Martinez has helped reload a Red Sox offense that finished last in the American League in homers in 2017, with his latest the 200th for Boston this season.

“J.D. hadn’t hit the ball in the air in a while, but I don’t think it’s his swing,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “Sometimes he’s been chasing up in the zone and down and away sometimes. Today he was able to do it.”

Bogaerts set a new career high in home runs and reached the 100-RBI mark on one swing in the sixth. The shortstop already had a two-run double in his pocket when he smashed a two-run homer to deep center. It was the 22nd of the season for Bogaerts, the first Boston shortstop to drive in at least 100 runs since Nomar Garciaparra’s 105 in 2003.

“Especially to do it in that way and in a win, it makes it that much better,” Bogaerts said. “I never envisioned doing it until later on in the season. I kind of looked up and was like, ‘Oh, there’s a chance.’”

Devers has endured three disabled list stints and was appearing in just his 117th game in Wednesday’s opener. That hasn’t stopped the third baseman from reaching the 20-homer mark this season, as he joined Ted Williams (1939) and Tony Conigliaro (1964, 1965, 1966) among Red Sox players to hit at least that many in a year before reaching their 22nd birthdays. Devers’ solo shot to right center in the seventh was part of his six-RBI day, a new career high.

“It’s been a different season for me,” Devers said. “Injuries have kept me off the field and I’m trying to make the most of every opportunity I’ve been given. I’m trying to help in any way I can.”

Benintendi smacked his 40th double of the season in the seventh, a rocket off the wall in deep left center. He joined Betts and Bogaerts as the first three teammates since 1900 to hit that many doubles at age 25 or younger in the same season. Betts has pounded out 47 — his fourth straight season of 40 or more — while Bogaerts has chipped in 44.

“We’re having an amazing time this year,” Bogaerts said. “This is the best team I’ve been a part of talent-wise. It’s just been amazing being in the clubhouse every day.”

-- bkoch@providencejournal.com

On Twitter: @BillKoch25

Five Sox players hit their marks, and then some

Wednesday