Stop and stare! Martínez crushes grand slam on the way to 6-RBI night

CHICAGO -- As the fly ball off the bat of Angel Martínez carried deep into the night, the Guardians’ left fielder turned around to peak at catcher Edgar Quero.

It was more of a passing glance, really. Martínez had a trip around the bases awaiting him.

Martínez crushed a no-doubt grand slam Friday that sent the Guardians to an 8-2 win over the White Sox in the opener of a crucial three-game series at Rate Field. It was part of an epic night for the 24-year-old, who finished 2-for-5 with a career-high six RBIs.

This was Martínez’s night. And it was a night the Guardians and their fan base desperately needed.

Cleveland has been reeling of late, having entered the weekend 6-13 since the All-Star break and having lost 11 of its past 14 games. After getting swept by the Mets on Thursday, the Guardians fell to two games under .500 (57-59) for the first time this season. They sat three games behind the American League Central-leading White Sox (59-55).

There’s time left this season, but suffice to say, a poor result this weekend would turn the heat up a few notches on manager Stephen Vogt’s ballclub.

Martínez ensured the Guardians’ weekend would begin on a high note.

Martínez got the Guardians on the board in the first inning, when he hit a bases-loaded two-run single off White Sox starter Noah Schultz. As it turned out, Martínez was the last batter Schultz would face.

The White Sox had a mound visit before Martínez stepped to the plate. After his slam, manager Will Venable made his way onto the field to talk to Schultz. If a team holds two mound visits with one pitcher in a single inning, they must pull that pitcher from the game.

It’s why David Sandlin came on to pitch as early as he did. While Schultz is a southpaw, Sandlin is a right-hander. So Martínez turned around to the left-handed batter’s box for his second at-bat. He crushed a first-pitch cutter on the inner half a Statcast-projected 422 feet and 106.4 mph.

After he turned around to stare at Quero, Martínez flipped his bat into the air -- where it majestically floated for a few moments. It marked his third career slam, following April 8 against the Royals and July 8 last season against the Astros.