Hernandez offers deep thoughts on first homer
BALTIMORE — Rookie Marco Hernandez’ first career home run, a three-run shot in the eighth inning yesterday that broke open a 7-2 win against the Baltimore Orioles, came with a little help from the Red Sox powerhitting expert.
“David (Ortiz) gave me a tip. He said, ‘Trust your hands, and go out there with a plan, and trust your hands,’ ” Hernandez said. “It was amazing. To hit my first home run ... for three runs, it’s awesome, man.”
Hernandez started at third base and batted ninth as a byproduct of first baseman Hanley Ramirez receiving a day off. Travis Shaw shifted from third to first, and Hernandez made his third big league start.
With the Sox ahead 4-2 in the eighth after Ortiz led off the inning with his 14th home run of the season and 517th of his career, the left-handed hitting Hernandez jumped on a heater from right-handed reliever Mychal Givens and sent homer No. 1 beyond right field.
“I just got to go there and hit a fastball,” said Hernandez of his approach. “When you’re a fastball hitter, you can go ahead looking for breaking ball because if he throws you a fastball you can react. I tried for the fastball early in the count. Be aggressive early in the count.”
Defensively, third base is still new for Hernandez, a shortstop for almost the entirety of his career. The 23-year-old has appeared at second base, short and third since being called up from Triple-A Pawtucket.
“I’ve been working at third base with (infield coach Brian Butterfield) every other day,” Hernandez said. “Before I got called up, I played some third base to get comfortable in Triple A. Wherever they need me, I’m able to play third base, second and short. Early in the year was tough because I had never played (third). Now I’ve been working hard to prepare for that situation.”