NEW YORK -- As might be expected for a 23-year-old catcher, suddenly entrusted with handling a major league pitching staff, Blake Swihart didn't supply much offense in his first two months.
Swihart was too busy trying to learn his own pitchers, establish game plans, and get used to life in the big leagues.
But since suffering a foot injury and returning from the disabled list on July 20, Swihart has been making up for lost time at the plate.
On Tuesday, he swatted two homers -- including a big three-run shot that was part of a six-run first -- and drove in a career high five runs in the Red Sox' 10-4 win over the New York Yankees.
In the last 41 games, Swihart has a slash line of .301/.353/.472 with four homers and 20 RBI.
"He's getting his pitch and not missing it,'' said interim manager Torey Lovullo. "I know there's been a vulnerability to certain breaking balls in the dirt. We've seen that the past several days. But once he gets that pitch he's looking for in the middle of the zone, he's squaring it up. He enjoys hitting here. He talks about the short right field porch.''
"I see the ball pretty well here,'' said Swihart of Yankee Stadium. "I don't know that those balls I hit are home runs anywhere else. But I guess here, they are.''
Boston Red Sox
The two homers Tuesday night gave Swihart three homers in his last four games, and hinted at his power that probably hasn't fully developed.
"I'm not trying to hit home runs,'' maintained Swihart. "I'm just trying to put good swings on balls and I'm getting lucky enough to get a homer out of it. I feel pretty comfortable. I've put some really good swings on some balls and gotten out, but as long as I put a good swing on them and hit the ball hard, something good will happen.''
"Blake is a very offensive-minded catcher,'' assessed Lovullo. "He's starting to parlay that part of his game.''