Jon Lester tossed a gem through seven innings, allowing just one run on six hits. His performance was one-upped, though, as reigning AL MVP Justin Verlander pitched eight scoreless in front of the home crowd in Detroit.
Mark Melancon and the bullpen may have taken the majority of the hit in Thursday's 3-2 walkoff loss. But Bobby Valentine's club showed a good deal of focus and will in making a ninth-inning comeback to knot things up.
Dustin Pedroia was the catalyst with a leadoff double in the Sox final frame and newly acquired outfielder Ryan Sweeney punched in the game-tying run with a triple to deep right field. Melancon and recently named closer Alfredo Aceves couldn't quite extend the game into extra innings. But the Red Sox displayed enough on Opening Day to quiet the critics, for now at least.
However, there are 161 more to be played and, as we learned last year, they all are equally important.
It won't be easy. The AL East is expected to once again be the toughest division in baseball, and nobody is going to have any sympathy for the way things ended for the Red Sox last season. Instead, it will be up to them to prove that this year's squad has what it takes to compete.
Last year, the Red Sox ended the season 90-72, but it's anybody's guess how they will finish this time around. How many wins do you think the Red Sox can manage this season?
