BOSTON — Red Sox lefty masher Romy Gonzalez hit a first-pitch leadoff home run Saturday that initially looked like a double high off the Green Monster.
Gonzalez pulled up at second base and began doing Boston’s new plane/turbulence celebration.
“I was kind of upset,” Gonzalez admitted. “I was telling all the boys that I was hitting a home run first pitch today. And when the ball bounced back, I’m like, ‘No way.’”
But the umpires convened and determined it hit off the shelf between the wall and Green Monster seats, which is home run territory.
Gonzalez, Trevor Story and Abraham Toro all homered to help lead the Red Sox to a 7-3 victory over the Astros at Fenway Park.
“I’m glad it was a home run,” said Gonzalez, who connected on a first-pitch 90.3 mph fastball from Astros left-handed starter Colton Gordon.
Gonzalez’s homer cut Boston’s deficit to 2-1 after Red Sox starter Walker Buehler had given up a two-run homer to Christian Walker in the top of the first inning.
“I think it’s huge — being able to punch back immediately,” Gonzalez said. “I think I got the boys going.”
Manager Alex Cora penciled in Gonzalez as the leadoff hitter after using rookie Roman Anthony in the top spot the past five games. Anthony batted third Saturday behind Gonzalez and Alex Bregman. Rob Refsnyder, another lefty masher, batted cleanup.
“He’s very meticulous in his lineup approach,” Gonzalez said about Cora.
Cora added, “We’re going to keep moving our pieces. Romy led off today because we felt like that was a great matchup for him. Maybe tomorrow he’s hitting fourth (vs. Astros lefty Framber Valdez) because we feel like it’s a better matchup for Ref. So we’re having fun. We’re moving the pieces, trying to win as many games as possible. And I love the fact that people are enjoying this.”
Gonzalez is 31-for-90 (.344 batting average) with a .394 on-base percentage, .678 slugging percentage, 1.072 OPS, six home runs, eight doubles, two triples and 21 RBIs against left-handed pitchers.
“I just feel like everyone believes in me, and we work extremely hard,” Gonzalez said. “Everyone in this room works extremely hard. And we all pull for each other. I feel when there’s a lefty on the mound, I feel like everyone just feels like something good is going to happen at any given moment.”
Gonzalez also doubled and scored two runs. The Red Sox improved to 36-21 at Fenway Park.
“There’s nothing better than winning, especially at Fenway Park. The fans have been electric,” Gonzalez said. “It’s the best.”
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
Source link
