RED SOX NOTEBOOK: Holt excels for PawSox

The rehabbing Red Sox utility man reached base four times in a 17-5 drubbing of Rochester on Friday night. Holt singled and drew three walks as the PawSox scored eight times in both the first and second innings, building a 16-0 lead.

BOSTON - The offensive barrage produced by Triple-A Pawtucket on Friday night included a notable contribution from Brock Holt.

 The rehabbing Red Sox utility man reached base four times in a 17-5 drubbing of Rochester. Holt singled and drew three walks as the PawSox scored eight times in both the first and second innings, building a 16-0 lead.

 It’s a significant change from Holt’s first attempt at a minor league stint a little over a week ago. Holt managed only one game and three at-bats while battling a scratched cornea in his right eye, striking out twice and eventually returning to Boston without being activated off the injured list.

 “He got what, six at-bats?” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “That’s pretty solid. He said he saw the ball well.”

 Holt saw 31 pitches in six plate appearances while serving as the designated hitter and batting second. He walked on eight pitches in his first trip and dumped an RBI single into left field on his second. Holt went down 0-and-2 in his third at-bat before grinding out his second walk of the night.

 “It’s only six at-bats, he didn’t play the field – he was the DH,” Cora said. “But he felt good. He saw the ball.”

 Holt’s two strikeouts serve as a reminder that he’ll still need a few games to reestablish his timing at the plate. He hasn’t played for the Red Sox since April 5, and this was only his second start of any kind in the past three weeks. The PawSox and Red Wings were snowed out on Saturday and were scheduled to finish their series on Sunday.

 “It seems like everybody got a hit yesterday down there,” Cora said. “For yesterday, it was good.”

 Back spasms KO Martinez: J.D. Martinez was a late scratch from the Boston lineup on Saturday.

 The Red Sox listed Martinez as day-to-day due to back spasms. It’s the first game he’s missed this season after appearing in the first 26. Steve Pearce was penciled in as the designated hitter batting seventh, a move that pushed Xander Bogaerts, Rafael Devers and Michael Chavis up one spot apiece.

 Martinez has hit safely in all but two games thus far, including a season-opening 10-game hitting streak and an 11-game hitting streak. Only Shea Hillenbrand (2001), Eddie Bressoud (1964) and Martinez have reached base safely in 24 of Boston’s first 26 games. Martinez’s on-base percentage of .423 ranks third in the American League and he’s tied for fifth with 33 hits.

 Martinez proved durable in his first Red Sox campaign, appearing in 150 games. Three of his 12 days off came at National League parks, with Boston pitchers forced to bat for themselves absent the designated hitter.

Familiar foe: Cora’s familiarity with Tampa Bay’s starting pitcher on Saturday, Charlie Morton, dates back to their shared championship run with the Astros in 2017.

 The right-hander was a stalwart in the rotation for Houston during the regular season and was also deployed out of the bullpen in the playoffs. Cora served as the club’s bench coach under manager A.J. Hinch and brought the idea of using starters as relievers with him to Boston in 2018, a strategy that helped the Red Sox capture their fourth title this century.

 “There’s no secrets with Charlie,” Cora said. “It’s plus stuff all-out until he gets you or you get him. That’s the way it works with Charlie.”

 Boston’s starting nine on Saturday was a combined 25-for-70 with four home runs against Morton. Second baseman Michael Chavis was the only member of the lineup yet to face Morton, who debuted with the Braves in 2008. His free-agent move to the Rays on a two-year deal includes an early shift in pitch mix – Morton is throwing his fastball 10.5 percent less and has more than doubled his cut-fastball usage to 13.4 percent.

 Pedroia, Nunez work out: Saturday’s pregame sunshine allowed a pair of Boston’s injured infielders to get in some work on the field.

 Dustin Pedroia (left knee) and Eduardo Nunez (back strain) both went through full workouts, hitting and taking ground balls. The tarp was in place to protect the playing surface from Friday’s heavy showers and thunderstorms, forcing Pedroia and Nunez to work inside.

 “We’ll sit down and meet with them and see what the next step is,” Cora said.

 Brian Johnson (left elbow) is scheduled to throw a bullpen either Sunday or Monday. Johnson played catch from up to 90 feet on Thursday and will attempt only fastballs.