After missing the entirety of last season due to complications from COVID-19, Eduardo Rodriguez is out to an impressive 4-0 start.
The Boston Red Sox managed a 5-3 win against the Seattle Mariners on Sunday afternoon at Fenway Park thanks to seven strong innings from the left-hander.
Hits were hard to come by with the Red Sox getting just five. But a single-game season-high seven walks allowed Boston to get on and around the bases to work up an early lead and tear into the Mariners' pitchers early.
The victory helps Boston split the series with Seattle as it improved to 14-9. Now Red Sox hit the road where they've played excellent thus far.
Here's how it all went down:
ON THE BUMP
-- Rodriguez did it again, as he seemed to get filthier as his outing progressed Sunday.
The ace went seven full innings for Boston, giving up three earned runs off six hits and no walks. Rodriguez struck out out eight batters, delivering 71 of his 98 pitches for strikes.
-- Adam Ottavino took over and walked the first player he saw in the eighth, but a nifty double-play turned by Marwin Gonzalez, Christian Arroyo and Bobby Dalbec got two punches out of the way.
From there, Ottavino struck out Kyle Seager to get out of the inning.
-- Matt Barnes made quick work of Seattle to the tune of a 1-2-3 inning, sealing the deal with a 98 mph fastball. He recorded two strikeouts.
IN THE BATTER'S BOX
-- Patience is a virtue the Red Sox had Sunday.
In just the third inning, Boston earned its seventh walk of the game for a single-game season-high. Three of those turned into runs within the first two frames.
-- Four walks in the first inning (along with a Kiké Hernandez leadoff single, Christian Vazquez RBI-single and Arroyo getting hit by a pitch) allowed Boston to take an early 4-1 advantage. Rafael Devers, J.D. Martinez, Hunter Renfroe and Gonzalez all worked four balls to help load the bases twice.
-- Reliever Drew Steckenrider took over for Nick Margevicius in the first, but he too walked Hernandez and Devers to start the second. That set up Xander Bogaerts with one out and runners in scoring position. He slammed a double to left field to drive in a run.
-- Along with his walk, Martinez went 2-for-3 with a run and two doubles.
-- Dalbec was the only player to not get on base for the Red Sox.
TWEET OF THE GAME
Keep moving the goal posts, X.
UP NEXT
On the road we go.
After the longest homestand of the season, the Red Sox get a day off Monday and hit the road for a two-game set against the New York Mets on Tuesday. First pitch is at 7:10 p.m. ET.
