Manny, Nomar & Co. rip Tampa Bay for 22 runs

Manny, Nomar and Co. rip Tampa Bay for 22 runs.

Garciaparra hits three home runs including a Grand Slam on his birthday.

July 23, 2002 -- The Boston Red Sox had their best offensive game of the season, when they massacred the Tampa Bay Devil Rays for 22 runs and 19 hits on Tuesday afternoon.

The birthday boy, Nomar Garciaparra became the first major leaguer to hit three home runs on his birthday, driving in eight runs to lead the Boston Red Sox to a 22-4 win at Fenway Park.

Garciaparra became the third Red Sox player to homer twice in one inning, the first since Ellis Burks did it against the Cleveland Indians on Aug. 27, 1990.

In the opener of a day-night doubleheader, Boston trailed 4-0 going into the bottom of the third, then the Red Sox went into a home run hitting fiesta -- led by Garciaparra.

Garciaparra hit two home runs off starter, Tanyon Sturtze (1-10), then hit a 2-2 pitch over the Green Monster the following inning off Brandon Backe.

It was the 28th time the Red Sox reached double digits in runs in an inning, the most in the major leagues. Boston's previous inning of 10 or more runs was an 11-run first against the Chicago White Sox on June 26, 1999.

Manny Ramirez also had a great game, hitting two home run while driving in five RBIs. Trot Nixon went 4-for-5 with three RBIs and a home run, and Johnny Damon also homered.

It was the most runs for Boston in a regular-season game since a 22-4 rout of Kansas City on April 12, 1994.