If the Boston Red Sox were looking for some momentum on their road trip, then they definitely found itĀ against the Oakland Athletics.
Boston put a beating on the A’s on Friday, hammering them for 16 runs while David Price quietly held things down on the mound for seven solid innings. Oh, yeah, and Major League Baseball’s top prospect, Yoan Moncada, made his big league debut for the Red Sox.
Here’s how it all went down.
GAME IN A WORD
Slugfest.
The Red Sox had scored at least 13 runs in each of their three games against the A’s this season, and they kept up that tradition by dropping 16Ā on Oakland on Friday.
IT WAS OVER WHEN …
Boston scored six runs in the sixth inning.
The Red Sox’s big sixth put them up 12-2, and with the A’s already on their fourth pitcher at that point, Boston pretty much had this game in the bag.
ON THE BUMP
—Ā Price’s night probably will be overshadowed by the offense and Moncada’s debut, but it was a great performanceĀ nonetheless. The left-hander hit a bump in the fourth inning, allowing two runs to tie things up, but he kept rolling after that. Price went seven innings, allowing two runs on four hits with three walks and seven strikeouts.
— Joe Kelly came out in the eighth and gave up a leadoff single to second baseman Joey Wendle. But Kelly retired the side after that, forcing Jake Smolinski to line out and striking out Bruce Maxwell and Max Muncy.
— Robby Scott also made his MLB debut Friday in the ninth and struck out the first two batters he faced in designated hitter Billy Butler and first baseman Matt McBride. Scott induced a flyout after giving up a single to end the game.
IN THE BATTER’S BOX
—Ā Travis Shaw collected a bunch of RBIs in the Red Sox’s huge offensive nightĀ thanks in large part to a three-run homer in the sixth inning. The third baseman ended the night 3-for-6Ā with two doubles, a home run, five RBIs and two runs.
— David Ortiz went 2-for-2 with a walk, a run and three RBIs before leaving the gameĀ in the top of the seventh, when the Red Sox were up 12-2. Ryan Hanigan pinch-hit for the slugger and went 1-for-2 with a double.
— Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-4 with a double, two runs and three RBIs before exitingĀ in the bottom of the seventh for Moncada.
Moncada walked in his first major league plate appearance and struck out in his second, going 0-for-1 with a run.
— Dustin Pedroia went 2-for-5 with two runs before also heading to the bench when the Red Sox continued to lengthen their lead in the top of the eighth.
Deven Marrero went 0-for-1 in his stead.
— Xander Bogaerts spent a lot of time on the basepaths, goingĀ 1-for-3 with a double, two walks, three runs and an RBI. Marco Hernandez pinch-hit for Bogaerts in the ninth and singled to go 1-for-1 with a run.
— Mookie Betts went 1-for-5 with a run and two RBIs he collected on a sacrifice fly and a groundout.
— Brock Holt went 1-for-5 with a run, and Jackie Bradley Jr. went 1-for-4 with a run and an RBI.
— Sandy Leon picked up a couple of hits, too, going 2-for-3 with two walks and a run.
TWEET OF THE NIGHT
Craig Kimbrel had some fun playing on what was left of the football field at O.co Coliseum on Friday.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox play Game 2 of their series against the A’s on Saturday in a 9:05 p.m. ET contest. Rick Porcello will startĀ for Boston, while right-hander Daniel Mengden will take the hill for the A’s with starter Sean Manaea on the mend.
Thumbnail photo viaĀ Kelley L Cox/USA TODAY Sports Images
