Mike Napoli is back to his old self against the Yankees.
The Red Sox first baseman owns phenomenal career production against the Yanks, but almost zero of that has come recently. Entering last night, Napoli was in a 6-for-38 funk with 14 strikeouts versus the Yankees since 2011.
Last night, though, Napoli pummeled Phil Hughes and Co., cracking a game-breaking grand slam in the third inning and delivering three hits in Boston’s 11-1 obliteration in The Bronx. Maybe he’s reclaiming his ability to crush the Yanks.
Napoli, who played for the Angels and Rangers before signing with the Sox this winter, has now played 37 career games against the Yankees, and he has mauled them, hitting .310 (36-for-116) with six homers, 24 RBIs and a .961 OPS. That’s a full-season pace of 26 homers and 105 RBIs.
Before 2011, his production versus the Yankees was even more impressive — the slugger was a lifetime 30-for-77 (.390) with five homers. Those numbers are David Ortiz-esque.
Napoli signed a one-year deal with Boston for just $5 million after a proposed three-year pact for $39 million collapsed due to a hip condition. So far, he has been terrific for the Sox, racking up nine homers, a team-high 44 RBIs and an .846 OPS in just over a third of the season.
Asked if the Yankees ever expressed interest in him before he finally signed with Boston, Napoli replied, “There might have been a little talk but nothing crazy.”
Last night Napoli singled in his first at-bat against Hughes before coming to the plate in the third inning for the game’s key at-bat. Ahead 1-0, the Sox had men on second and third with one out, prompting Yankees manager Joe Girardi to intentionally walk Ortiz (another Yankees killer and the Sox’s best offensive threat) to load the bases for Napoli.
“That’s tough. I understand obviously with David. He’s been hot. He’s been swinging a good bat,” Sox catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. “But with Napoli, you just never know.”
Napoli worked a 2-2 count before pounding a 94 mph fastball into the right-field stands, giving the Sox a 5-0 lead and their first grand slam in four-and-a-half years at the new Yankee Stadium.
“I like protecting [Ortiz],” Napoli said, “and maybe giving managers another thought of doing that.”