The Red Sox have scored nine runs in three consecutive games to start their 2023 campaign, marking the first time Boston's offense has accomplished the feat in franchise history. That production at the plate propelled the Red Sox to a 9-5 series-clinching victory over the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park on Sunday afternoon.
Red Sox manager Alex Cora, to no surprise, is liking just about everything he's seeing from the group. But Cora specifically stressed how the number of quality at-bats has been impressive given that they're coming from all over the lineup.
"We're going to put the ball in play," Cora told reporters after the win, as seen on NESN's postgame coverage. "Today wasn't the greatest day for exit velocity, but we put the ball in play what it matters. That's what we're trying to accomplish. That's why we bunted early in the game just to add on, trusting, that we will put it in play.
"The quality of the at-bats, the guys that we have. ... From top to bottom, we believe we're gonna put pressure on the opposition," Cora continued. "There's certain days that isn't going to work, but we will grind and do what we've done over the weekend."
Boston has scored 27 runs on 36 hits with a team average of .327. Against the Orioles on Sunday, the Red Sox received multiple hits from the red-hot Adam Duvall (3-for-5), Masataka Yoshida (2-for-4), Rafael Devers (2-for-5), Alex Verdugo (2-for-4) and Kiké Hernández (2-for-4). The team now has combined for 14 extra-base hits and five home runs.
"We got a complete team and we're going to use them," Cora said. "We're gonna pinch-hit for people, bunt, try to run the bases well."
Cora added: "From top to bottom, I think the quality of the at-bats have been great."
Here are more notes from Red Sox-Orioles on Sunday:
-- Hernández, who has home runs in consecutive games, echoed much of what Cora had to say regarding the Red Sox offense.
"It's just what we've been preaching since day one in spring training, passing the baton and next man up," Hernandez told NESN's Jahmai Webster after the game. "We did a great job of that."
-- Tanner Houck had a respectable first start of the season, though his two mistakes led to two Orioles home runs in the fifth inning. Nevertheless, Houck had the best start of the season for Boston. He allowed three runs on five hits and one walk in five full innings.
"He was good," Cora said of Houck. "I mean, the two home runs, it is what it is. But he was around the plate with good stuff. He gave us a chance to win. We were where we were in the bullpen and I think the guys, they got the big outs when they needed. But overall for Tanner, a lot better than in Florida."
-- Allow us to share a few stats from J.P. Long depicting just how good Duvall has been for the Red Sox through three games. Among them, Duvall is one of four players in franchise history to record eight or more RBIs in his first three games and he's the only Red Sox player to record six extra-base his in hit first three games with the team.
-- The Red Sox return to Fenway Park and continue their season-opening homestand Monday night against the Pittsburgh Pirates. The first of a three-game series will feature first pitch at 7:10 p.m. ET, and you can watch it live on NESN following an hour of pregame coverage.
