ARIZONA DIAMONDBACKS

Ketel Marte hits first career grand slam as D-backs pour it on Boston

Apr 5, 2019, 6:55 PM | Updated: 9:23 pm

Leading up to the sixth inning of the Diamondbacks’ home opener, Arizona was rolling over the Boston Red Sox.

Then Ketel Marte stepped up to the plate.

Already up 8-1, and with the bases loaded, Marte turned on one.

Right off the bat, it was clear it had the distance as it cleared the left field fence for Marte’s first grand slam of his career.

Make that 12-1.

“Nothing changed,” Marte said after being asked if his approach changed after seeing Christian Walker intentionally walked ahead of him. “I get so mad, but it’s part of the game. I go up there and I’m like ‘I got to get him, I got to get him and do something special for my team.'”

Marte seemed to have the hot hand early on Friday as that was his second homer of the game. In the bottom of the fourth, Marte added another run with a solo shot.

He’s just the seventh D-back to record a homer from each side of the plate in franchise history.

“I feel very strongly about Ketel,” D-backs manager Torey Lovullo said about Marte after the game. “He’s going to be here a long time, we know that and we’re enjoying every minute he gets better.

“And I think at one point, yes, we’re going to be looking at somebody that’s one of the best in the league.”

Entering play Friday, Marte averaged .290 from the plate with nine hits, six RBIs and five runs scored in seven games played (31 at-bats).

Against the Red Sox, Marte went 2-for-5 (.306) with a career-high five RBIs and two runs scored.

“There’s no limitations for him, and he’s trusting of his coaches and getting good information and impacting the game in a very special way,” Lovullo said. “Yes, I think we’re on our way there. Is it happening now, today? Probably not because I think the skies the limit for him.”

It’s just the second multi-home run game for the second baseman in his career. He first did it against the Marlins in 2018.

Arizona wasn’t done there, however, as they added two more runs, courtesy of a two-run shot from Ildemaro Vargas. Vargas was called up Friday to replace the injured Jake Lamb.

The D-backs compiled seven runs in the sixth inning, the most in the team’s interleague play since 2012.

All told, Arizona had five homers in Friday’s 15-8 win. Two from Marte, one from Adam Jones, a solo shot from Alex Avila and another from Vargas.

The D-backs set a new franchise record in interleague play with 15 runs scored, the most since 2017.

They’ve now scored 56 runs and hit 19 homers through eight games.

While it’s nothing but smiles in the home dugout, Boston is clearly not having as much fun at Chase Field.

Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte (4) celebrates his grand slam against the Boston Red Sox with Eduardo Escobar, left, during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte connects for a grand slam against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte, center, smiles as he stands at the top of the dugout for a curtain call after his grand slam against the Boston Red Sox during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks relief pitcher Yoan Lopez celebrates the final out against the Boston Red Sox in the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) 
              Boston Red Sox pitcher Brian Johnson reacts after giving up a grand slam to Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte during the sixth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)
            Boston Red Sox's Eduardo Nunez, a utility player, throws a pitch against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox's Mitch Moreland, left, celebrates his three-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Xander Bogaerts (2) during the ninth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks center fielder Adam Jones (10) and relief pitcher Yoan Lopez (50) celebrate their win over the Boston Red Sox after a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts, right, celebrates his two-run home run against the Arizona Diamondbacks with Andrew Benintendi, left, during the eighth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Adam Jones #10 of the Arizona Diamondbacks rounds the bases after hitting a solo home-run against the Boston Red Sox during the fifth inning of the MLB game at Chase Field on April 05, 2019 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images) Boston Red Sox pitcher Brian Johnson reacts after giving up a grand slam to Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte during the sixth inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello throws against the Arizona Diamondbacks during the first inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox's Mookie Betts (50) and Andrew Benintendi, right, wait to bat against the Arizona Diamondbacks prior to a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks starter Zack Godley throws the first pitch during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta runs onto the field during player introductions prior to a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' David Peralta dives safely back into first base after hitting a single against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox's Blake Swihart, right, celebrates his run scored against the Arizona Diamondbacks with teammate Mookie Betts, left, during the third inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers gets set to throw to first base to get Arizona Diamondbacks' Jarrod Dyson out during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks shortstop Ketel Marte celebrates his home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Ketel Marte watches the flight of his home run against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks' Zack Godley connects for a pop fly single against the Boston Red Sox during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox's second baseman Brock Holt (12), center fielder Mookie Betts, center, and right fielder J.D. Martinez, right, are unable to track down a pop fly single hit by Arizona Diamondbacks' Zack Godley during the fourth inning of an opening day baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox catcher Blake Swihart, right, runs after a pitch that got away as umpire Marty Foster (60) looks on during the fourth inning of an opening day baseball game against the Arizona Diamondbacks, Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Rick Porcello paces in the dugout after being pulled from a baseball game during the fifth inning against the Arizona Diamondbacks Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks third baseman Eduardo Escobar fields a ground ball before throwing out Boston Red Sox's Xander Bogaerts at first base during the fourth inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin) Arizona Diamondbacks starting pitcher Zack Godley throws to a Boston Red Sox batter during the first inning of a baseball game Friday, April 5, 2019, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin)

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