Martinez digs deep with four home runs

LOS ANGELES — J.D. Martinez hit four home runs for the Arizona Diamondbacks in a major league record-tying performance at Dodger Stadium on Monday night, leading the Diamondbacks’ 13-0 romp over the slumping Los Angeles Dodgers.

And get this: He struck out his first time up, then connected four times in a row, including shots in the seventh, eighth and ninth innings. “It’s a blessing,” he said. Martinez became the 18th player in big league history — and 16th in the modern era — to accomplish the feat. Scooter Gennett of the Cincinnati Reds hit four homers in a game on June 6 against the St. Louis Cardinals.

Martinez got going with a two-run shot in the fourth off Dodgers starter Rich Hill (9-7). Martinez added the solo blasts in the seventh and eighth innings before capping his power show with a two-run drive in the ninth.

He finished 4 for 5 with six RBI and four runs scored. Since

joining the Diamondbacks in a trade from the Detroit Tigers on July 18, the 30-year-old outfielder has 18 home runs. He has 34 total this season.

The D-backs added four runs in the seventh against the Dodgers' bullpen. Martinez and Brandon Drury hit backto-back homers off Pedro Baez to open the inning, making it 4-0.

Martinez hit his third homer of the game off Josh Fields in the eighth as Arizona upped its lead to 9-0. With history one swing away, Martinez stepped to the plate in the ninth.

"Let's go up there and keep doing what you're doing," he said he told himself.

He belted a two-run shot off Wilmer Font in a four-run ninth to join the likes of Hall of Famers Willie Mays, Mike Schmidt and Lou Gehrig. All-Star sluggers such as Josh Hamilton, Carlos Delgado and Gil Hodges also hit four homers, along with lesser-known players such as Pat Seerey.