Xander Bogaerts couldn’t have started the 2018 season off any hotter.
The Boston Red Sox shortstop continued to mash Saturday, tallying three hits, including a home run and two RBI in the Sox’s 3-2 win over the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field.
Rick Porcello took the hill for Boston, cruising through the first five innings before running into trouble in the sixth and departing with one out.
Boston’s bullpen secured the win for Porcello by snuffing out numerous rallies by the Rays in the late innings.
With the win, the Red Sox improve to 2-1, while the Rays fall to 1-2.
Here’s how it all went down:
GAME IN A WORD
Bullpen.
The Rays’ first attempt at a “bullpen game,” wasn’t a complete disaster. Tampa Bay’s pitchers only gave up three runs, but the Red Sox’s pitching staff was able to hold the Rays’ offense in check to grab the win.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
Craig Kimbrel slammed the door in the ninth inning to earn the save.
ON THE BUMP
— Porcello had a solid 2018 debut. The righty allowed one run on six hits while striking out four and walking one in 5 1/3 innings.
The right-hander ran into trouble for the first time during the fifth inning. Mallex Smith ripped a single to left and Jesus Sucre followed with an infield single to put runners on first and second with one out. Porcello buckled down, though. The righty struck out Denard Span and then got Kevin Kiermaier to foul out to end the threat.
Porcello’s night ended in the sixth inning. Carlos Gomez led off the inning with a double to straightaway center field, and Matt Duffy singled to left field to put runners at the corners with one out and send Porcello to the showers.
— Alex Cora tabbed Heath Hembree to get out of the jam in the sixth inning. Joey Wendle welcomed the righty by lifting a sacrifice fly to left field to cut the Sox’s lead to two. Hembree struck out Adeiny Hechavarria to end the inning. Hembree also recorded the first two outs of the seventh inning before being lifted after issuing a two-out walk to Span.
— Bobby Poyner made his Major League Baseball debut in relief of Hembree. The left-hander got Kiermaier to pop out to third base to end the seventh inning. Poyner came back out for the eighth and gave up a solo home run to Gomez which cut the lead to 3-2. He got Miller to pop out before being relieved by Carson Smith.
— Smith gave up a single to Duffy, but then struck out Wendle and got Hechavarria to fly out to end the frame.
— Kimbrel gave up a leadoff walk in the ninth, but the closer got a double play off the bat of C.J. Cron and retired Span to end the game.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Bogaerts got the Red Sox on the board in the second inning when he crushed a solo home run to left field off Andrew Kittredge. It was Bogaerts’ first home run of the season.
— The Red Sox knocked Kittredge out of the game with one out in the fourth inning. Hanley Ramirez laced a double to left field and J.D. Martinez followed with a groundout to shortstop to put an end to the right-hander’s night. Ryan Yarbrough relieved Kittredge and almost got out of the inning unscathed. With runners on first and third and two outs, Eduardo Nunez rolled what looked to be an inning-ending ground ball to third base. But Duffy’s throw got away from Miller, allowing Ramirez to score.
— Bogaerts continued to rake during the sixth inning. After J.D. Martinez record his first hit as a member of the Sox by doubling to leadoff the inning, the Red Sox shortstop slapped a laser down the left-field line to chase Martinez home and give Boston a 3-0 lead. Bogaerts went 3-for-4 with a home run, double and two RBI.
— Boston loaded the bases in the eighth inning, but Sergio Romo struck out Sandy Leon to keep the Red Sox’s lead at two.
— Martinez went 2-for-4 with a single, a double and a run scored.
— Mookie Betts went 1-for-4 with a single and a walk.
— Ramirez went 1-for-5.
TWEET OF THE DAY
X is scorching hot.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox will finish their four-game series with the Rays on Sunday afternoon. Hector Velazquez is scheduled to take the hill for Boston and will be opposed by Jacob Faria. First pitch from Tropicana Field is set for 1:10 p.m.
