‘Ottawa’ Long Ball Launches Blue Jays to Win Over Orioles
BALTIMORE — Russell Martin is a full-service catcher, delivering sound pitch advice, superb reception behind the plate and, over the past few months, a steady comfort level of run production to his staff.
Aaron Sanchez doesn’t often need all of Martin’s gifts to get the job done on the mound but he was certainly appreciative of the two-run home run that Martin smacked in the top of the first inning on Wednesday to help stake him to a 3-0 lead in what turned into a 5-3 victory for the Blue Jays over the Orioles.
It hasn’t always been that way for Martin this season.
Oh, the defence has been there every step of the way, but Martin didn’t exactly get out of the gate in a blaze of glory with the bat. For example, he didn’t hit his first home run of he season until his 40th game. He hit two that day, May 25, at Yankee Stadium, lifting his batting average to a lofty .181 in the process.
That was the beginning of a very nice turnaround.