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Red Sox newcomer has career day (with grand slam) in rout: ‘It’s fun to see him popping off’
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- Red Sox newcomer has career day (with grand slam) in rout: ‘It’s fun to see him popping off’
BALTIMORE — The best offensive performance of the young Red Sox season didn’t come from Roman Anthony , Willson Contreras , Trevor Story or Jarren Duran on Saturday. It came from an unlikely source of offense who was thrust into the designated hitter role — and the No. 5 spot — in a short-handed lineup.
Utility man Andruw Monasterio had two doubles and a grand slam in Boston’s 17-1 rout of the Orioles , becoming the first Red Sox hitter all season to have three extra-base hits. His OPS rose from .544 to .749 on a day he described as the best offensive showing of his career.
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“Offensively? So far? Yeah, maybe,” Monasterio said, smiling. “Right now I don’t have anything in mind, in the past. I’m so happy I helped the team to win.”
Two Monasterio swings bookended Boston ’s biggest offensive outburst of 2026. First, in a scoreless game with one out in the second, he doubled off tough lefty Trevor Rogers to start the Sox’ first offensive threat of the day. He had another one-out double an inning later, then had the big swing of a 10-run ninth inning when he drove his first career grand slam against lefty Keegan Akin .
The grand slam was memorable for Monasterio, who entered the game with just eight major league home runs. But his more important swing came in the second when he catalyzed a three-run Red Sox rally that felt like enough to win the game with ace Garrett Crochet cruising against the Orioles lineup .
“I set the tone for the guys going after me and to get better opportunities at the plate,” he said. “It’s good when you hit it with men on base or you hit it with nobody on base.”
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Monasterio’s breakout came after an uneven start to his first season with the Red Sox. After being acquired alongside Caleb Durbin in a six-player trade with the Brewers on the day spring training opened, Monasterio had a strong camp and earned a spot on the Opening Day roster . In the first four weeks, though, he struggled at the plate, hitting .194 (6-for-31) with eight strikeouts in limited playing time.
On Saturday, though, things were different with Cora using seven right-handed hitters against the left-handed Rogers and Anthony out of the lineup for the fourth straight game due to back soreness. After a 1-for-18 start against lefties, Monasterio showed why he was in the lineup.
“Mona, he’s an interesting player,” Cora said. “His swing today reminded me of early in camp when he was able to catch up with fastballs out in front. He did that.”
So far in 2026, the Red Sox have scrambled to replace the production against lefties they enjoyed from southpaw-mashers Rob Refsnyder (signed with Seattle ) and Romy Gonzalez (on the injured list after shoulder surgery) in the last two seasons. Monasterio and Isiah Kiner-Falefa have largely replaced Refsnyder and Gonzalez, but it’s unrealistic to expect them to match the duo’s production. On certain days, though, the pair of versatile infielders will need to step up.
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“When I got traded here, Craig ( Breslow ) and A.C. (Cora) told me I was gonna do the same thing I did in Milwaukee . It’s basically hitting lefties, I can play first base, I can play everywhere,” Monasterio said. “They can put me in to pinch-run or pinch-hit. Whatever they need, I’m gonna be ready.
“It’s not easy. When the game starts, you don’t know what’s going to happen with you. You have too many different situations in your head. At the end of the day, in the big leagues, you have to be ready. I feel good because I did it before. Whatever they need, I’m down for that.”
With the lineup scuffling to put together rallies all year so far, any jolt is welcome. On Saturday, it was Monasterio’s turn.
“The results are great but that’s a dude who is constantly putting up great at-bats,” said Durbin, who hit his first Red Sox homer in the ninth off position player Weston Wilson . “That’s the hitter he is and the player he is. Fun to see him popping off with those type of results but that dude is, same as everyone else, putting the work in every single day. Not really surprised when he’s having a game like that.
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