J.D. Martinez. (Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
BOSTON (WBZ-AM) -- Chris Sale earned the win, but J-D Martinez was the hero with a 3-run homer in the fifth inning of last night's 5-4 Red Sox comeback in Toronto.
Martinez is raking. He has 10 extra-base hits his last 17 games to lift his season average to .306 with a .951 O-P-S to go along with his five dingers and 18 RBI.
What's his secret?
"Moving the puzzle pieces around really, I feel like that's how my swing is," he said. "It's a puzzle, and you're always every day trying to figure it out, trying to match it with that pitcher. That's how it is all year."
Martinez and the Sox will open a six-game homestand tonight at 7:10 p.m. with the first of three against the Rays.
Boston leads the majors at 19-and-5, but Tampa Bay's quietly won six in a row.
Fortunately, Xander Bogaerts is expected back tonight from the disabled list. He was tearing the cover off the ball through nine games with two homers, seven doubles, nine ribbies, a .368 average, and .711 slugging percentage before being sidelined by a left ankle injury almost three weeks ago.
Drew Pomeranz will make his second start of the year. 3-and-1 Blake Snell will counter for the Rays. Snell has a 5.91 career ERA at Fenway.
WBZ NewsRadio 1030's Adam Kaufman reports