Reversed homer becomes record-setting double

BALTIMORE -- Jarrod Saltalamacchia nearly hit his 15th home run on Friday night.

Saltalamacchia's drive to right, which landed on the top of the wall, but below the short railing that separates the stands, was initially ruled a homer by second-base umpire Brian O'Nora.

In fact, Saltalamacchia went into his full trot, thinking he had just delivered the Red Sox a three-run shot. Instead, after the umpires took a look at it on replay, they correctly reversed it to an RBI double.

It turns out that the double had some history attached to it. With 40 doubles, Saltalamacchia set a single-season record for a Red Sox player whose primary position is catcher. Carlton Fisk (1978) and Jason Varitek ('99) held the previous mark at 39.

The double gave the Red Sox a 6-0 lead in the top of the third.

O'Nora might have been obstructed by right fielder Nick Markakis, who went in a full leap to try to catch the ball.