FORT MYERS, Fla. — David Ortiz and Dustin Pedroia have 13 All-Star selections and five World Series rings between them. But the Boston Red Sox’s dynamic duo was no match for Northeastern University sophomore James Mulry during Thursday’s spring training exhibition.
Mulry, a 6-foot-3 left-hander from West Roxbury, Mass., struck out Pedroia and Ortiz in back-to-back at-bats in the third inning Thursday, generating plenty of buzz among the JetBlue Park crowd. Ortiz, who smiled on his way back to the Red Sox’s dugout, gave Mulry his stamp of approval shortly after the surprising strikeouts.
“He can party tonight.” Ortiz joked. “… He can have a drink tonight and say, ‘I struck out Papi.”
Mulry certainly left an impression as Northeastern held its own Thursday. The Huskies gave the defending champions a run for their money before the Red Sox seized control with a four-run sixth inning en route to a 5-2 win.
“It seems like they watched the World Series a lot,” Ortiz said smiling.
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