Verdugo, Martinez power 5-run 1st, Red Sox top Blue Jays 7-3

DUNEDIN, Fla. (AP) — Alex Verdugo and J.D. Martinez hit back-to-back homers during a five-run first inning, Garrett Richards won his fourth straight decision and the Boston Red Sox beat the Toronto Blue Jays 7-3 on Wednesday night.

Kiké Hernández and Christian Vázquez also went deep for the Red Sox, who are 13-6 on the road. Boston has outhomered its opponents 57-32.

“We had good at-bats from the get-go," manager Alex Cora said. “We hit line drives. When we do that we also hit a lot of home runs.”

Toronto, which lost for only the second time in eight games, got a two-run homer from Marcus Semien. A victory would have moved the Blue Jays past Boston into first place in the AL East.

Verdugo hit a two-run drive and Martinez ended a 12-game homerless drought with an opposite-field shot to right as the first five batters reached safely against Ross Stripling (0-2). Bobby Dalbec also drove in a run on a double to right.

“I hope I have to do it every single time I pitch,” a smiling Richards said about waiting to take the mound as his teammates built a big early lead. “It's always nice when the boys score runs in the first inning. It allows you to just go out and pitch, fill up the zone.”

Boston's right-handed batters emphasized hitting the ball to right field during batting practice as the wind continued a recent trend of briskly blowing in, especially in the early innings, from left field at TD Ballpark.

Richards (4-2) allowed two runs, seven hits and four walks with five strikeouts over 6 2/3 innings. The right-hander induced three double-play grounders.

“Garrett was amazing,” Cora said. “It's not easy to pitch here. If I'm a pitcher and I see the first inning, I'm happy with the five runs, but you see the conditions here. You're like, `I've got to keep the ball down.'”

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source https://www.chron.com/sports/article/Verdugo-Martinez-power-5-run-1st-Red-Sox-top-16189962.php