The triple was the third of the season for Gonzalez (Crawford has four), but just the 11th of his career. Ellsbury has zero triples this year, but has stolen 24 bases.
Gonzalez’s hit went to the deepest part of the park, rolling into the triangle by the 420-foot marker.
“If you hit it there, you have to get a triple,’’ Ellsbury said. “I’d be giving him grief if he didn’t get a triple out of that one.’’
It looked as if Gonzalez hesitated near second base, unsure of whether to push for third.
“When I hit it, I was thinking double,’’ Gonzalez said. “But once it got to the corner back there and I was pretty close to second base, I was thinking, if they threw me out from out there that means I’m really, really, really slow.’’
But when he made it safely, the moment provided some amusement for his teammates. David Ortiz said that if even Gonzalez is hitting triples, the offense must really be clicking.
“It’s a memorable one,’’ catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia said. “He’s amazing, man. He’s fun to watch. He’s just a born hitter.’’
Gonzalez’s triple was his 100th hit of the season and 1,000th of his career.
“That’s something you always think you’re never even going to get close to,’’ Gonzalez said. “I’ve always said statistics are something I don’t really focus on. It’s nice to get there but it’s already behind me.’’
Gonzalez is in just his eighth big league season, and first of a seven-year contract with the Sox. It likely won’t be his last milestone.
“I think he’s not going to stop there,’’ manager Terry Francona said. “You’ll probably see 2,000 somewhere on down the road here in a little bit, because he’s a pretty good hitter.’’
Gonzalez’s triple capped an eventful weekend. On Friday, he went 3 for 4, a triple short of the cycle. Saturday featured a hitless performance and Gonzalez’s first-inning dropped popup that was followed by back-to-back Brewer home runs.
And the interesting twists just keep coming. Tonight, the Sox begin a series against the Padres, Gonzalez’s hometown team. He spent the last five seasons in San Diego before being traded to Boston in the offseason.
Gonzalez’s MVP-caliber start (.348 average, 64 RBIs, 101 hits, and 42 extra-base hits through 71 games) has done a lot to show the Padres what they traded away.
Gonzalez insisted he has no animosity toward his old team, or added excitement because his former teammates are coming to town.
“It’s another series,’’ he said. “I have a lot of friends on a lot of teams. I’m going to treat it like any series.’’
