How Red Sox DH Hanley Ramirez called J.D. Martinez's winning home run vs. Yankees

by Felix Pantaleon

Hanley Ramirez told Boston Red Sox outfielder J.D. Martinez to hit a home run, just before he hit his game-winning home run against the Yankees on Thursday.

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NEW YORK — Hanley Ramirez was just happy J.D. Martinez took his advice.

As Martinez started toward the plate to lead off the top of the eighth inning in a 4-4 game, the Boston Red Sox designated hitter gave one last instruction.

“I told him before he went up. ‘You better hit a homer right here,'” Ramirez said. “And he did. That’s good. I told him to his face. We need a homer from him right here, and he went out and hit it.”

Martinez’s solo shot just over the glove of a leaping Aaron Judge proved to be the difference in a 5-4 Red Sox win over the Yankees on Thursday at Yankee Stadium.

Takeaways from Yanks loss

Martinez said Ramirez has made that joke before. He was just happy his opposite-field fly had enough juice to clear the wall.

“I just hit it and I was blowing, praying, doing everything I can to push it over,” Martinez said. “I knew it had a chance.”

Martinez’s ninth home run of the season came on the second pitch of the eighth inning after the Yankees posted four runs in the bottom of the seventh to tie the game.

“To be able answer right back was big. Then you get the ball right back to the bullpen,” Martinez said. “They got it done that time. You’ve got to tip your hat to Joe (Kelly). It’s not an easy lineup to pitch to, especially in this ballpark. The majority of those guys can beat you at any second.”

The win let the Red Sox avoid a three-game series sweep and pulled Boston back into a tie with New York atop the AL East Standings at 26-11.

While it’s still just the middle of May, Thursday’s win let the Red Sox slow down the streaking Yankees for at least one night. New York entered the night on an eight-game winning streak, and the team was 17-1 over its past 18 games.

“They’ve been red hot, just to put a stop to them,” Martinez said. “For us to kind of at least take one here and avoid the sweep was huge.”