BOSTON (AP) — When Red Sox manager Alex Cora made Kiké Hernández his leadoff hitter, he had one goal in mind: “Instant offense.”
“That’s what we’re looking for: For him to hunt fastballs and do damage,” Cora said on Friday night after Hernández led off Boston’s first with a home run and sparked the Red Sox to an 11-5 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies. “That’s what he’s been doing the last two homestands.”
Hernández’ homer was his fifth from the leadoff spot this season; only Kyle Schwarber (7) and José Altuve (6) have more. It was also his fifth homer in his last 12 games — four of them in the first inning.