Martinez hit a grand slam Wednesday night. (Maddie Meyer/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- New Red Sox slugger J.D. Martinez got off to a slow start in Boston--just 4-for-his-first-20--but he's lifted his average to .250 with a 3-for-9 start to this set with the Yankees.
Martinez hit a grand slam in last night's 10-7 loss at Fenway, but he's homered twice and driven in 10 in as many games this season.
Is he getting more comfortable?
"Yeah, yesterday I hit the ball hard twice, today I hit the ball good, I've been kind of just grinding it out," he said. "My swing feels good, it's coming around little by little."
The Sox had their nine-game winning streak snapped last night, but they'll try to start a new one tonight when Boston and New York play their rubber game at 7:10 p.m.
Rick Porcello will take his 2-0 record and 2.84 ERA to the mound opposite fellow righty Sonny Gray. He has a 3.60 mark, but an ERpushing five in six career starts against the Red Sox.
Porcello's allowed two earned runs or fewer his last six outings opposite the Yanks.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports