Boston, MA (Sports Network) – Lost in the milestones pursued by starting pitcher Tim Wakefield and the continuation of a career-best hit streak by second baseman Dustin Pedroia, catcher Jarrod Saltalamacchia quietly put together his best day at the plate in his brief Boston tenure on Sunday.

The 26-year-old south Florida native did his part to fuel a 17-hit barrage in Sunday’s series finale, finishing 3-for-4 with four RBI as the Red Sox claimed a 12-8 victory over the slumping Seattle Mariners.

Prior to the series finale, the switch-hitting backstop was batting .249 with eight homers and 27 RBI in 61 games. He’s gone 7-for-16 in his last four games with two homers and seven RBI, shaking off a three-game hitless streak which wrapped around the All-Star break.

“I’ve just been feeling good…taking good swings, just trying to get to the fastball and putting it in play instead of fouling a lot of balls off,” Saltalamacchia said following the contest.

Saltalamacchia’s previous best with the Red Sox was three RBI, attained on April 17 against Toronto and again on May 25 at Cleveland.

This successful 2011 campaign is no doubt a reward for a trying 2010, where his resolve was seriously tested — not so much on the diamond as it was on the sidelines.

He was the Rangers’ catcher on Opening Day but was placed on the disabled list shortly thereafter because of stiffness in his upper back and shoulder.

After returning to the field in the minor leagues with Triple-A Oklahoma City, he experienced pronounced difficulty throwing the ball back to the pitcher from behind the plate, which he eventually was forced to overcome in order to continue his career.

Ultimately, he was shipped by Texas to the Red Sox at last season’s trade deadline.

Though brought up from Triple-A Pawtucket in the early part of August, Saltalamacchia acquired a nasty lower-leg infection just over a week into his big league re-appearance and was placed on the DL.

He missed three weeks of action and played in just seven games until the end of the season, collecting only one hit in 13 at-bats.

However, the Sox saw enough in the backstop to want him back, agreeing to terms on a one-year contract in mid-October. That investment is finally paying off, and nobody could be happier than Saltalamacchia himself.

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