The Red Sox officially kicked off the 2013 baseball season with a morale-boosting 8-2 win over the Yankees on Monday.
Jackie Bradley Jr. made his big-league debut with a solid performance, walking three times and scoring two runs. Bradley Jr. was hyped up throughout spring with speculation about whether or not he would make the Sox’ Opening Day roster, and he delivered a promising start.
Jon Lester carried his strong spring performance over into Opening Day, giving up just two runs in his five innings, striking out seven and walking two. Though he only lasted five, the lefty paved a solid path for the Red Sox to get the win. The Sox’ bullpen proved to be a force to be reckoned with, as many anticipated it would be, showcasing a team that seems to be ready to play as a cohesive unit with something to prove.
Even with 161 more games ahead of them, the Sox seem to have already nailed down the formula they need to win games. What can Monday’s win tell us about the potential for the rest of the season?
