BOSTON -- For
“I was laughing on first base, because it’s a line drive in the book,” said Chavis. “I didn’t hit it that well, but I got two RBIs off of that thing. My biggest thing is I’m trying to help the team win ballgames. That’s my job here. I helped a little bit there. It was nice, for sure.”\n\nUntil Sunday, Chavis had mostly made his mark with the big fly in his first three weeks in the Majors. But this was one of those days when he just needed some hits.\n\nThe second hit -- a two-run single to right -- was a legit laser at 107.8 mph, according to Statcast.\n\nThe third knock was another sign that the mini slump for the rookie had subsided. It was a seeing-eye grounder in the seventh that slipped under the glove of diving first baseman
“Oh, it was great, honestly,” said Chavis. “I’ve been scuffling along a little bit but seeing the ball well, and I’ve been working, obviously, but had been missing some pitches before today. So the work’s not done, so I’m going to keep working and making adjustments. It was nice to see some results.”\n\nHowever, the results didn’t make Chavis lose sight of the goal. He is still looking for that stroke which led to the six homers and 1.236 OPS in his first 48 MLB at-bats through May 4.\n\nThe right-handed-hitting slugger didn’t speak to the media until nearly an hour after Sunday’s game. This is because he was in the batting cage trying to fix himself after a five-RBI game. In fact, when Chavis conducted his interview, he still had his batting gloves on because there was still more work to do.\n\nAlone time in the batting cage has been a staple for Chavis for about as long as he can remember.\n\n“I don’t like the idea where if my swing doesn’t feel good, I say, ‘I guess it will feel better tomorrow’ or something like that,” said Chavis. “I like having my own time just to swing and feel it out myself. It’s different when there’s a bunch of people around, like maybe somebody else is waiting, so you need to get your routine out of the way so that they can hit.\n\n“I’ve done this since I was a kid. Even when I was like 14 years old after a game, I would go hit if I didn’t feel good. in high school, I did the same thing. It’s part of my thing.”\n\nThat obsessive routine has served Chavis well to this point. With 19 RBIs on the season, Chavis fell just one short of
**J.D. feeling at home again**\n\nSpeaking of Martinez, with two blasts over the Green Monster on Sunday, he ended a home run drought for the second time this week.\n\nWhen he smashed career homer No. 200 on Tuesday at Baltimore, it ended a spell of 62 at-bats without a homer, his longest drought since 2014.\n\nAnd this time, Martinez hit his first homer at Fenway since Game 1 of last year’s Division Series against the Yankees. Martinez’s solo shot in the first against Mariners lefty
**Velazquez thriving in non-glamour role**\n\nBeing a spot starter can sometimes feel as glamorous as the soggy weather
“I’ve been pitching around three innings my last few outings, so to be able to go five today is very satisfying,” Velazquez said. “I felt great, I’m very happy because I finally have my first win.”\n\nVelazquez’s ability to perform the dual role has come in handy this season, with