The Boston Red Sox already showed their potential in their Opening Day game against the Cleveland Indians.
The Red Sox made plenty of big moves over the offseason, and one acquisition started on the mound Tuesday while another newcomer closed things out. David Price had only one bad inning and finished the day with 10 strikeouts in the Red Sox’s 6-2 win over the Indians. New closer Craig Kimbrel came through in the ninth inning to preserve Boston’s victory.
On the other side of the ball, Mookie Betts and David Ortiz both homered in what proved to be a big offensive game for the Sox, who finished with 11 hits.
Let’s take a look at how it all went down in the Red Sox’s season opener.
GAME IN A WORD
Battle.
Neither the Red Sox nor the Indians were going to go down easily in this one. Boston started things off with two runs in the third inning, but Cleveland came right back, scoring two of its own in the fourth. The Red Sox added two in the sixth, but it wasn’t until the ninth inning that the game really seemed out of reach for Cleveland.
IT WAS OVER WHEN…
David Ortiz smacked a two-run home run in the ninth inning.
The Indians were within spitting distance of catching up before the final frame, but Big Papi’s homer put the game out of reach at 6-2.
ON THE BUMP
— You couldn’t have asked for a much better Opening Day from Price. While the Red Sox ace did have a rough fourth inning, during which he gave up two runs on four singles, Price was on for the rest of his outing. The left-hander struck out a whopping 10 batters over six innings while surrendering two walks and five hits.
— Junichi Tazawa got the call in the seventh and made quick work of the half-inning. Taz retired the side, punching out Tyler Naquin and Rajai Davis to finish things off.
— Koji Uehara got his first look as Boston’s setup man and enjoyed a 1-2-3 inning of his own. The 41-year-old induced two flyouts before striking out former teammate Mike Napoli to end the eighth.
— Craig Kimbrel made his Red Sox debut, walking one batter and striking out two to finish the ballgame.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
— Betts had quite a day for the Red Sox, going 2-for-5 with a two-run blast in the third inning. Ortiz also had a two-run shot, finishing the day 2-for-4 with an intentional walk.
— Brock Holt and Travis Shaw were productive at the plate, with both going 2-for-5. Holt added an RBI single, and Shaw added a run to the mix.
— Hanley Ramirez got himself off to a good start, going 2-for-4 with a run and a walk.
— Blake Swihart didn’t have a hit, but he walked twice.
— Dustin Pedroia and Xander Bogaerts went hitless, going 0-for-4 and 0-for-5, respectively. Pedroia walked in the ninth inning.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Ramirez apparently will be throwing his bat this season instead of swinging out of his helmet.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox remain in Cleveland for the second game of their opening series. Wednesday night’s first pitch is scheduled for 6:10 p.m. ET, and Clay Buchholz will be going head-to-head with Indians right-hander Carlos Carrasco.
Thumbnail photo via Ken Blaze/USA TODAY Sports Images
