Red Sox's Yoshida launches two HRs in same inning

Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) hits a grand slam home run during the eighth inning of their game against the Milwaukee Brewers on Sunday at American Family Field. MARK HOFFMAN/MILWAUKEE JOURNAL SENTINEL / USA TODAY NETWORK

Red Sox's Masataka Yoshida launches two HRs in same inning, joining exclusive club

By Mike Santa Barbara | Last updated 4/23/23

After a middling start to his first campaign with the Boston Red Sox, Japanese import Masataka Yoshida announced his presence on Sunday with one perfect inning at the plate.

Yoshida stunned the crowd at American Family Field, smashing two home runs, including a grand slam, in the eighth inning of Bostons' 12-5 drubbing of the Milwaukee Brewers.

According to MLB.com's Sarah Langs, Yoshida is only the fifth Red Sox player to hammer two homers in the same inning and the first since David Ortiz in 2008. Yoshida joins Ortiz, Nomar Garciaparra (2002), Ellis Burks (1990) and Bill Regan (1928) as the only Red Sox to accomplish the feat.

The Red Sox trailed Milwaukee 4-3 heading into the eighth, but after a lead-off homer from Justin Turner tied the game, Yoshida followed suit, smashing a line drive over the wall to give Boston the lead.

Masataka Yoshida's go-ahead homer puts the @RedSox on top! pic.twitter.com/o9iuZnUxhK
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2023

Up again eight batters later, with the bases juiced, Yoshida turned on a Javy Guerra pitch, launching it 407 feet into the second deck in right field.

Masataka Yoshida's second homer of the inning was SLAMMED to right! pic.twitter.com/ySDpYYy01V
— MLB (@MLB) April 23, 2023

Yoshida was off to a slow start for Boston, recording a homer and nine RBI while slashing .213/.324/.295 over 16 games. However, after finishing 2-of-4 on the day, Yoshida's long balls on Sunday helped raise his average to .231 while driving his slugging percentage up to .400.

The 29-year-old may be heating up. With two hits on Sunday, Yoshida increased his modest hitting streak to four games. Over that stretch, he's gone 7-of-17 with a double, two home runs and nine RBI.

Yoshida's rise is a good sign for the Red Sox, who paid a hefty price to acquire his services. Boston inked Yoshida to a five-year, $90M contract in December while also posting a $15.4M fee to the sluggers' NPB team, the Orix Buffaloes.

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