Martinez’s 21st HR propels Red Sox past White Sox

BOSTON — J.D. Martinez looked bad on a swing, went to the video, took some hacks in the cage and made sure he didn’t miss his pitch the next time up.

Martinez hit a tiebreaking two-run homer, David Price pitched six solid innings to win his fifth straight decision and the Boston Red Sox rebounded from a series-opening loss with a 4-2 victory over the Chicago White Sox on Saturday.

“Whatever it is that I want to work on, I go in the cage and work on it before my next at-bat,” said Martinez, who hit his team-lead- ing 21st homer. “I felt like early in the game I was jumping off my back side. I was just kind of going into the cage and working on staying on my back side, not twisting.”

After looking completely fooled with an awkward swing to strike out on a high, 93 mph fastball in the third inning, the slugger hit a hanging changeup into Boston’s bullpen, pushing the Red Sox ahead 4-2 in the fifth. It marked a promising return to the lineup after Martinez sat out Friday night’s 1-0 loss to rest his achy back.

“I really don’t feel like he’s gotten that hot, as hot as I’ve seen him get,” said Price, who played with Martinez in parts of the 2014 and ‘15 seasons. “He can get hotter.”

Jackie Bradley Jr. added a solo shot for Boston, which avoided tying its seasonhigh three-game losing streak. The Red Sox on Friday with ace left-hander Chris Sale on the mound.

Jose Abreu had an RBI double for the White Sox.

Price (7-4) held Chicago scoreless after allowing two runs in the first. He gave up five hits, struck out six and walked three, improving to 5-0 in his past six starts with a 2.89 ERA.

Craig Kimbrel pitched a perfect ninth for his 20th save.

Carlos Rodon took the loss in his season debut, giving up four runs — two earned — and six hits, striking out seven and walking two in five innings. The 24-year-old lefty started the season on the disabled list after left shoulder surgery last September.

“I was just happy to get through it and be healthy,” he said. “Obviously wish I would’ve made some better pitches and got ahead of guys. I fell behind, led to some more pitches.”

Three of Chicago’s infielders made an error: shortstop Tim Anderson booted a grounder, and second baseman Yoan Moncada and first baseman Abreu each had one throwing.