Sox rookie Swihart swats first homer
Catcher says loss dampens elation of trip around bases
BOSTON -- Red Sox rookie catcher Blake Swihart hit his first Major League home run in the third inning of Thursday's 8-4 loss to the Twins at Fenway Park.
Batting right-handed, the 23-year-old launched a 2-0 offering from Minnesota southpaw Tommy Milone over the Green Monster, a solo shot that gave Boston a 3-0 lead. He is the youngest Red Sox catcher to hit a home run since Rich Gedman in 1982.
Right before the home run, Swihart requested a new bat from the bat boy.
"It felt good. It has been a long time coming, I guess finally being able to do something on the offensive side to help the team out," he said.
While Swihart was jubilant after the home run, slapping hands with fans as he made his way back to the dugout, those emotions had lessened after the loss.
"At the moment it felt great, but now it doesn't mean anything," Swihart said. "It put another run on the board at that point though, which was important."
The Red Sox rookie has been on a roll. He has a hit in 12 of his past 14 starts, which included an eight-game hit streak. However, the home run marked his first extra-base hit since May 16.
Swihart, who was selected by the Red Sox in the first round of the 2011 Draft, hit 22 home runs in 325 Minor League games before being called up May 2.