The Boston Red Sox began their four-game set with the Baltimore Orioles on Friday with a win that included strong pitching, offense and a heads-up play by right fielder Mookie Betts.
Sox skipper Alex Cora was asked after the game what he thought of Betts’ play to throw Adam Jones out at second and his answer was simple:
“He’s the best right fielder in the league for a reason.”
For the second time in four games, Boston put up seven runs on their opponent, resulting in a victory. This time around, it was the O’s who were at the losing end of a 7-3 score at Fenway Park.
Sox starter Eduardo Rodriguez threw six stellar innings after giving up a run in the first. The lefty picked up his first win of the season, after his first start resulted in a no-decision where he pitched 3 2/3 innings.
“Everything was working for me today,” Rodriguez said after the game. “The cutter. The slider. The changeup.”
On the offensive side, it was Eduardo Nunez who broke the 1-1 tie in the first inning with a three-run Green Monster home run. He finished the night with two hits, a walk and three RBI.
″(Nunez) was joking before the game he hasn’t had a hit on a fastball the whole season,” Cora told reporters after the game. “He was able to turn on one. That was good to see.”
Rafael Devers also had himself a night, going 3-for-5 at the dish while scoring two of Boston’s seven runs. Coming into Friday’s game, the third baseman was in an 0-for-12 slump.
Here are some other notes from Red Sox-Orioles:
— Rodriguez is the first Red Sox starter to throw 100-plus pitches this season, logging 104 through six innings.
— The victory Friday night makes the Red Sox 6-1 on their current homestand.
— Friday marked the sixth consecutive game Boston scored at least six runs.
— Joe Kelly received a standing ovation as he made his way to the mound for the eighth inning and fans in the crowd sported shirts showing their support for the relief pitcher.
— The Red Sox are 11-2 for the first time since 1918.
— For what it’s worth, utility man Brock Holt was sporting a new look before Friday night’s game.
— Since being acquired by the Red Sox in a trade with the San Francisco Giants, Nunez has hit .310 with 33 RBI in 50 games for Boston.
— Starting pitcher Drew Pomeranz, who started the season on the disabled list, made a rehab start with the Portland Seadogs. He threw 5 2/3 innings, giving up four hits, two earned runs, three walks and struck out four. The southpaw threw 86 pitches, 53 of them for strikes. One of his strikeouts was against former NFL quarterback Tim Tebow.
