He's hitting it off right away

David Newhan's first visit to Fenway Park was as a spectator when he played in the Cape Cod League for the Yarmouth-Dennis Red Sox.

Last night, the 31-year-old journeyman made his Fenway Park debut a memorable one as he led the Orioles to a 10-5 victory.

"I couldn't ask for anything better," said Newhan. "We got the win and I had some success. It's awesome coming into a park like this with its history. I have so much respect for the guys that have been in this locker room. It's an awesome place to play. It's just exciting to be on the field."

Newhan, who signed with the Orioles June 18 and has hit safely in 28 of 30 games, slammed an inside-the-park homer and added a double and two singles for his second four-hit game of the season.

"I don't think I ever hit an inside-the-park home run," said Newhan, whose father is Hall of Fame baseball writer Ross Newhan of the Los Angeles Times. "I was just battling, had two strikes on me and I just wanted to get the bat on the ball."

Pedro Martinez thought he made a good pitch.

"It was just a curveball," said the Red Sox ace. "It was right down the middle. It was hoping I was going to get him to strike out."

Said Newhan, "Out of the box I thought I had a chance for a hit. Once it hit off the wall, I thought I would have a triple. At first Trebel [third base coach Tom Trebelhorn] was tentative waving me along. Then the wave got pretty big and I was able to get home before the ball came in."

His shot hit off the center-field wall. Johnny Damon tried to snare it but couldn't chase it down. He picked up the ball and attempted to hit cutoff man Mark Bellhorn, but Manny Ramirez cut off Damon's relay and relayed the ball to Bellhorn, whose throw to Jason Varitek was wide of the plate.

"I didn't know what was happening out there," said Newhan. "I was just looking at the bases and running. It was a kind of weird relay out there, but it helped me."

He can't remember hitting another inside-the-park homer. "Maybe in Little League or something," added the designated hitter, who started the year at Triple A Oklahoma City in the Texas organization before signing with Baltimore.

It was the first Oriole inside-the-park home run since Phil Bradley's against the Yankees in June 1990, and the 18th in team history.

"With Newhan swinging a hot bat, it adds more juice to the lineup," said manager Lee Mazzilli. "When Newhan beat out that ground ball after breaking the bat, it opened up the inning for us."

Mazzilli was referring to Newhan's first hit, in the fourth. Martinez had mowed down 10 straight Orioles and, again, Newhan had a two-strike count. Newhan hit a broken-bat roller down the third base line, and he beat Kevin Youkilis's throw. That ignited a three-run rally.

In the sixth, Newhan stroked a Martinez curveball to center, and followed with his homer in the seventh to give the Orioles an 8-4 lead.

In the ninth, Newhan led off with a double off the Monster and scored on Melvin Mora's double.

It has been quite a season for Newhan. He is hitting .430 and has been a catalyst for Baltimore with 13 multiple-hit games.

His only hitless games were an 0-for-4 night at Tampa Bay July 17 and when he flied out as a pinch hitter against the Phillies July 4. In his first at-bat for Baltimore, Newhan slammed a 435-foot home run against Colorado.

"It's been incredible," said Newhan. "I've been hot before, but nothing like this. This is at a different level. It's a nice stretch. You just try to stay with the game and keep getting my work in. It's been an easy transition joining this team. This is a good group and they've made me welcome."