The first two big-league homers allowed by Cardinals righthander Carlos Martinez, one in 2013 and another in 2014, both came with two men on base. The fireballer then didn’t surrender any three-run homers all of last season and just one this year, that back in April.
On Saturday came his start against the Atlanta Braves, who have been homer-challenged no matter how many men were on base. With just 66 homers in 109 games, the Braves began the night 24 homers in arrears of the nearest team to them in the majors, the Miami Marlins. They would end the night with 70 as they hit four homers in a game for the first time this year.