Red Sox Notes: Hanley Ramirez Playing Role Of Hero Early In Boston’s Season

The most clutch hitter in Major League Baseball history was in attendance Thursday at Fenway Park, and it appears that David Ortiz’s heroic nature rubbed off on Hanley Ramirez.

The Boston Red Sox’s offense struggled all day against the Tampa Bay Rays, trailing 2-0 heading into the ninth inning. But the Sox rallied against Alex Colome.

First Ramirez drove in a run with an RBI single to center, and Xander Bogaerts tied the game with two-out double two batters later.

The game went into the 12th inning when Ramirez strolled to the plate with the bases loaded and two outs. Facing left-hander Ryan Yarbrough, the 34-year-old laced an RBI single over the head of right fielder Carlos Gomez to give Boston a 3-2 win. It was the second straight game that Ramirez has come through with a game-winning hit in extra innings.

Ramirez has had a blistering start to the 2018 season. The first baseman, who revamped his body via the Tom Brady method in the offseason, has started the season hitting .310 with one home run and six RBI. Ramirez has looked like the hitter manager Alex Cora imagined would occupy the No. 3 hole in his lineup for much of the season.

After the walk-off win, Ramirez noted how he learned from Ortiz, who has been his friend for years and was his teammate for two seasons in Boston before the legendary slugger hung it up.

There were a number of questions regarding Ramirez heading into the season, especially after the signing of J.D. Martinez. But through seven games, Ramirez has been everything Boston has needed him to be.

Here are more notes from Red Sox-Rays: 
— Eduardo Rodriguez will make his season debut when he starts Sunday against the Rays.

— This was the eighth walk-off in a home opener in the 106-year history of Fenway Park, and the first to last at least 12 innings. The last two walk-offs to occur during a home opener were in 1998 and 1975.

— The Red Sox now are 17-3 in their last 20 extra-inning games.

— The Red Sox were 5-65 when trailing after eight innings last season. They are 1-0 this year.

— David Price has started the season with 14 straight scoreless innings.