PHILADELPHIA — Dustin Pedroia wasted no time in flexing his muscles.
Pedroia, who underwent thumb/wrist surgery at the tail end of last season, said throughout the offseason and during spring training that his power would return in 2015. The Red Sox second baseman doesn’t appear to be lying, as he ripped two solo homers Monday as Boston defeated the Philadelphia Phillies 8-0 on Opening Day at Citizens Bank Park.
Pedroia connected on his first homer in his first at-bat of the season. He drilled a 1-1 offering from Phillies ace Cole Hamels into the left field bleachers to put the Red Sox on the scoreboard.
Pedroia, who totaled a career-low seven home runs last season, decided one Opening Day homer wasn’t enough. He left the yard again in the fifth inning to extend Boston’s lead to 3-0.
The Red Sox went deep five times in total. Hanley Ramirez, like Pedroia, hit two, including a grand slam in the ninth inning. Mookie Betts added one.
The Red Sox’s offense looks like a dangerous unit from top to bottom. And a healthy, productive and powerful Pedroia in the No. 2 hole could be a major difference-maker.
