Marco Gonzales got the ball for the Mariners and Andrew Benintendi began the Red Sox season with a routine grounder to first on the first pitch. Mr. Mookie Betts blooped a single to right for the first hit of the season before Rafael Devers stroked a single to right as well. JD Martinez lined a single to left to score Betts with the season's first run. Dee Gordon made a great sliding play on a hard Xander Bogaerts liner to nail Martinez at second to put runners at the corners. Mitch Moreland grounded into the shift to end the inning but the Sox had grabbed the lead 1-0.
Sale made his season debut in the bottom of the first and struck out Mitch Haniger on a slider. Domingo Santana whiffed on a high 3-2 changeup. Edwin Encarnacion hit a routine grounder to Devers at third who threw himself on the ball like it was a grenade for an error to extend the inning. Jay Bruce whiffed to end the inning.
Eduardo Nunez opened the top of the second by reaching first on a Jay Bruce fielding error. Jackie Bradley Jr singled up the middle and the Sox caught the Mariners napping with a double steal to move both runners into scoring position. Naturally Christian Vazquez whiffed on a full count pitch in the dirt before Benintendi popped one up to left. Third baseman Ryon Healy made the sliding catch and both runners took off. Healy's throw home hit Nunez and he scored to give Benintendi a sac fly. Mr. Mookie popped up to first to end the inning but it was 2-0 Sox.
The Mariners exploded in the bottom of the second. Sale got Healy to pop up to right to start the bottom of the second but Tim Beckham smashed a 400,000 foot bomb to cut into the lead. Mallex Smith grounded out to short but Sale walked David Freitas. Gordon blooped a single to left before Sale hit Haniger in the gonads to load the bases. Santana crushed a double to right to score two runs before Haniger was thrown out at the plate to end the inning with Seattle up 3-2.
The Sox threatened in the top of the third although Devers lined out to left to start. Martinez whiffed but Bogaerts hustled for a double when his line drive went off the glove of Healy at third. Moreland drew a walk but Nunez whiffed to end the inning. The Mariners iced the game in the bottom of the third as Encarnacion smashed a 7,000 foot blast to increase the lead. Bruce whiffed but Healy walked and Beckham launched a 700,000 foot blast to put the game away. Smith tripled to center and scored on the Freitas sac fly before Gordon grounded out to second to end the inning. Sale lasted just 3 innings, gave up three home runs and left trailing 7-2. Worst start by a Red Sox ace on Opening Day since Pedro Martinez in 2002.
The Sox failed to respond in the top of the fourth as JBJ flied out to right, Vazquez lined out to third and Benintendi flied out to right to end the inning. Hector "The Insurance Policy" Velazquez took over for the bottom of the fourth and Haniger grounded out to third to begin. Santana whiffed but Encarnacion blooped a pop up over the head of Bogaerts. Bruce popped up to third to end the inning.
The Sox left more men on base in the top of the fifth as Mr. Mookie singled to start only to be erased on the Devers force. Martinez singled but Bogaerts lined out to center. Moreland grounded out to short to end the inning. The homer parade continued as Healy smashed a 970 foot bomb to left to extend the pain. Beckham grounded out to third, Smith whiffed and Freitas grounded out to second to end the inning with the Mariners up 8-2.
Somehow the Sox rallied in the top of the sixth as Nunez doubled to start, but JBJ whiffed. Nunez moved to third on a balk and scored on the Vazquez double to left. That was it for Gonzales as old pal Roenis Elias came in for Seattle. Benintendi was so excited to see his ex-teammate he ripped an rbi single to right to score Vazquez. Mr. Mookie flied out to center and Devers somehow whiffed on a pitch that hit him in the elbow to end the inning with the Sox down 8-4.
Velazquez came back for the bottom of the sixth and crapped his pants. Gordon popped up to third to star but Haniger singled to left. Santana singled to right and Encarnacion was plunked to load the bases. That was it for Velazquez as Heath Hembree was brought in to pour gas on the fire. Bruce walked on four pitches not even close to score Haniger but Healy popped up to first. Beckham hit a routine grounder to Nunez who decided to kick the ball over first before doing a cartwheel for an error to score Santana. Smith whiffed to end the inning but Seattle was up 10-4.
Dylan Moore came in for Bruce in the batting order but played third with Healy moving to first. Cory Gearrin came in to pitch the top of the seventh and Martinez lined out to center to start. Bogaerts whiffed and Moreland grounded back to the mound to end the inning. Tyler Thornburg sprinted to the mound from the bullpen to pitch the bottom of the seventh and he took a beating too. Freitas flied out to center but Gordon whiffed. Haniger doubled and Santana hit a 800,000 foot home run to wrap up the scoring. Encarnacion flied out to right to end the inning but it was 12-4 Seattle.
Brandon Brennan came in for the top of the eighth and Nunez lined out to right although JBJ reached on an error by Beckham. Vazquez banged into a double play to end the inning. Brian Johnson had mop up duty in the bottom of the eighth and Moore walked to start. Healy looked at strike three before Beckham grounded out to third. Smith flied out to left to end the inning.
Benintendi whiffed to open the top of the ninth but Mr. Mookie singled to center. Devers whiffed and Martinez grounded out to second to end the game. The Mariners had crushed the Sox 12-4.
Jackass of the Night is Chris Sale. The incompetent lefty had no velocity and it showed as he allowed 7 runs with 3 long balls in just 3 innings.
The Good:
Brian Johnson pitched a scoreless ninth.
Mookie Betts was 3 for 5 with an rbi.
JD Martinez was 2 for 5 with an rbi.
The Bad:
Hector Velazquez allowed 3 runs in just 2 1/3 innings.
Tyler Thornburg allowed 2 runs in an inning.
The Ugly:
Andrew Benintendi was just 1 for 4 but drove in 2 runs.
Rafael Devers was just 1 for 5 with an error.
Xander Bogaerts was just 1 for 4.
Mitch Moreland was 0 for 3 but walked.
Eduardo Nunez was just 1 for 4 with an error but scored 2 runs.
Jackie Bradley Jr was just 1 for 4 but stole a base.
Christian Vazquez was just 1 for 4 but drove in a run and scored.
Heath Hembree allowed 2 inherited runners scored but none of his own in 2/3 of an inning.
Final Thoughts:
That was a complete ass kicking in every sense of the word. Chris Sale and the bullpen pitched like garbage and the Mariners made them pay for every mistake. This game showed you the advantage the Mariners had playing in Japan because they were game ready and clearly the Sox were not. Sale's diminished velocity reminds us all of Drew Pomeranz last year and if Sale can't get it back...uh oh. Still its only one game and there's 161 more to go but this leaves a bad taste in everyone's mouth. The Sox look to bounce back tomorrow night with Nathan Eovaldi making his season debut opposite Yusei Kikuchi at a ludicrous 10:00 PM Eastern Time start at Safeco Field.
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