Cano looks right at home at Fenway

BOSTON -- Robinson Cano flashed a big smile when asked to explain his stunning success at Fenway Park.

"I know I do really good when I play here," he said, but if you're looking for a reason, you're out of luck. Cano doesn't have one.

He went 3-for-5 with a home run and a double Saturday in the Yankees' 9-4 victory over the Red Sox, raising his average here to .367 (84-for-229). He's hit 21 doubles, a triple and 11 home runs, which is more homers than he's hit at any other major-league stadium aside from the old Yankee Stadium.

And Cano has been on an especially hot streak here since the start of last season, hitting .455 (20-for-44) with six doubles, three home runs and 10 RBIs in 11 games.

Joe Girardi points to Cano's swing as the reason for his success, saying his strengths -- hitting the ball with authority to all fields -- mesh well with the unique dimensions of this 99-year-old ballpark.

"This park suits him pretty well because he can hit the ball so hard the other way," he said. "Robbie just sprays the ball."

Cano stayed away from the Green Monster Saturday, though, doing all of his damage by driving the ball to centerfield and rightfield.

With Alex Rodriguez on first and none out in the second inning, Cano jumped on the first pitch from Clay Buchholz and crushed a 92-mph fastball off the centerfield wall. That put runners on second and third, setting the stage for the Yankees' two-run inning, with Cano scoring a run on the first of Eric Chavez's two doubles.

With the Yankees ahead 7-4 in the sixth, Cano came up with two outs and nobody on and quickly fell behind former Yankees teammate Alfredo Aceves 0-and-2. Catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia called for a pitch above the strike zone -- and Aceves didn't get it high enough. His 91-mph cutter caught too much of the plate, and Cano blasted it deep into the rightfield stands for a four-run lead.

In this park, every insurance run is welcome. "Against these guys, you never know what's going to happen," Cano said, "so you've always got to go up there ready to do the best you can."

In addition to his offensive exploits, Cano was involved in what at the time was a critical defensive play that helped the Red Sox score three runs in the fourth and move within 5-4.

With the Yankees ahead 5-1, the Red Sox had runners at the corners and one out when Jacoby Ellsbury hit a potential inning-ending double-play ball to Derek Jeter. But after Jeter flipped to Cano for the second out, he couldn't get a good handle on the ball and decided not to try to rush a throw to first, especially with the speedy Ellsbury running.

"I didn't want to throw it into the stands," Cano said.

Had Cano turned the double play, Ivan Nova and the Yankees would have been out of the inning still leading 5-1. Instead, a run scored on the play and Dustin Pedroia doubled home two more.

In the end, Cano more than made up for that play with his offensive production, as he often does in this ballpark.

On his way out of the clubhouse, a jovial Cano was quick to remind reporters, "This is not my home."

It just looks that way.