Last year the Boston Red Sox didn't win their first series against an AL East team until August. This year it took them just the first series of the year. The Boston offense continued its hot streak by putting up nine runs for the third game in a row against the Orioles pitchers. Tanner Houck was superb through four innings but allowed three runs in the top of the fifth. With the game tied 3-3, Masa Yoshida drove in the go-ahead run and the red hot Adam Duvall drove in the insurance runs. The O's clawed back to make it 6-5 but pinch hitter Triston Casas drove in a big insurance run. The Sox tacked it on as the duo of Chris Martin and Kaleb Ort held the fort in the later innings. The Sox won the series and this game 9-5 at Fenway Park.
Houck made his season debut in the top of the first and Cedric Mullins led off with a fly out to left. Adley Rutschman struck out swinging and Anthony Santander flied out to center to end the inning. The Sox rallied in the bottom of the first against Cole Irvin. Rob Refsnyder started it with a base hit in the hole at short. Rafael Devers dumped a base hit to right and Justin Turner walked to load the bases with nobody out. Masa Yoshida hit a little roller to first to score Refsnyder on the force to put the Sox on the board but Adam Duvall was rung up for strike three. Alex Verdugo walked to reload the bases but Christian Arroyo struck out swinging to end the inning with the Sox up 1-0.
Ryan Mountcastle grounded out to Devers to start the top of the second before Gunnar Henderson struck out swinging on a pitch way inside. Terrin Vavra lined a base hit past Houck up the middle and Austin Hays drew a full count walk. Adam Frazier grounded out to second to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the second as Kike Hernandez belted his second home run in consecutive games to increase the lead. Connor Wong grounded out to second, Refsnyder took strike three right down the middle and Devers struck out swinging to end the inning with Boston ahead 2-0.
Houck cruised in the top of the third inning as Ramon Urias popped up to second on the second pitch. Mullins grounded out to first on the second pitch as well. Rustchman took strike three to end the inning. The Sox struck again in the bottom of the third although Turner flied out to center to start. Yoshida grounded out to third but Duvall doubled into the left field corner. Verdugo dumped a base hit to center to score Duvall but Arroyo flied out to center to end the inning with the Sox ahead 3-0.
Santander got a base hit to center to start the top of the fourth but Mountcastle struck out swinging. Henderson grounded into a double play to end the inning. The Sox did nothing in the bottom of the fourth as Hernandez flied out to right to start. Wong flied out to right and Refsnyder grounded out to short to end the inning.
The O's roared back in the top of the fifth although Vavra flied out to right to start. Hays grounded one up the middle for a single and Frazier hit a home run all the way to the Azores to cut the lead. Urias grounded out to second but Mullins hit a home run all the way to the moon to tie the game. Natural how it took the Sox three innings to score three runs and the O's took five batters. Rutschman struck out swinging to end the inning but the damage was done, the game was tied 3-3. That was it for Houck who lasted just 5 innings and allowed the 3 runs just like that. Shame that he dominated 4 innings and had Dice K disease.
The Sox wasted no time getting the lead back as Devers hit a rocket to center for a hit to start the bottom of the fifth. Turner singled in the hole at short and Yoshida hit a broken bat bloop to center to score Devers and chase Irvin from the game. Bryan Baker came in to pitch and uncorked a wild pitch to move both runners over although both Turner & Yoshida were credited with stolen bases. Duvall made him pay with a broken bat single to left to score both runners and increase the lead. The O's defensive woes continued as Verdugo popped up to short but Henderson and Vavra called each other off causing Henderson to drop the ball on an error. Arroyo dropped down a picture perfect bunt to move the runners over but Hernandez watched strike three go by. Wong grounded out weakly to third to end the inning with the Sox ahead 6-3.
John Schreiber came in to pitch the top of the sixth and Santander grounded out to second to start. Mountcastle struck out swinging but Henderson drew a walk. Vavra struck out swinging to end the inning. Refsnyder flied out to left to start the bottom of the sixth before Devers went down hacking. Turner flied out to right to end the inning.
Richard Bleier made his Sox debut by crapping his pants in the top of the seventh inning. Hays took strike three to start but Frazier got a base hit to left. Urias doubled into the right field corner and Mullins drove in both runners with a base hit to center. Rutschman forced Mullins at second and Santander struck out swinging to end the inning with the O's down 6-5.
The Sox got the runs back in the bottom of the seventh with Keegan Akin now on the mound. Yoshida got a base hit to left to start and Duvall doubled off the Monster, but Verdugo popped up to short to chase Akin. Mike Baumann came in to pitch but Sox manager Alex Cora countered by bringing in Triston Casas to face him. Casas delivered with a base hit to right to score Yoshida and send Duvall to third. Yu Chang pinch ran for Casas and Hernandez singled to right to score Duvall. Wong lined out to right but a wild pitch moved both runners over. Refsnyder walked to load the bases but Devers popped up to first to end the inning with the Sox ahead 8-5.
Chris Martin came in to pitch the top of the eighth and Mountcastle got a base hit to center. Henderson forced him at second before Vavra popped up to short. Hays flied out to right to end the inning. The Sox got an insurance run in the bottom of the eighth although Turner lined out to center to start. Yoshida walked and stole second but Duvall hit a bullet to Urias. Urias tried to double off Yoshida at second but threw the ball away, moving Masa to third on the error. Verdugo did the honors by dumping a base hit to right to score Yoshida. Chang took strike three to end the inning with the Sox ahead 9-5.
Kaleb Ort came in to close out the top of the ninth and Frazier doubled to the left field wall to begin. Kyle Stowers pinch hit for Urias and struck out swinging. Mullins popped up to left and Rutschman also popped up to left to end the game. The Sox had won it 9-5.
Hero of the Night is Masataka Yoshida. He drove in the go-ahead run to put the Sox up for good in the fifth inning. He was 2 for 4 with a walk, stolen base and 3 runs scored as well.
The Good:
Rafael Devers was 2 for 5 with a run scored.
Adam Duvall was 3 for 5 with 2 rbis and 2 runs scored.
Alex Verdugo was 2 for 4 with a walk and 2 rbis.
Triston Casas singled and drove in a run in his only at-bat.
Kike Hernandez was 2 for 4 with a home run and 2 total rbis.
John Schreiber tossed a scoreless sixth inning.
Chris Martin pitched a scoreless eighth inning.
Kaleb Ort pitched a scoreless ninth inning.
The Bad:
Christian Arroyo was 0 for 2 with a strikeout.
Yu Chang struck out in his only at-bat.
Connor Wong was 0 for 4.
Richard Bleier allowed 2 runs in the seventh inning.
The Ugly:
Rob Refnsyder was just 1 for 4 with a strikeout but walked and scored a run.
Justin Turner was just 1 for 4 but walked and scored a run.
Tanner Houck got the win but was tagged for 3 runs in 5 innings after pitching a shutout through 4. He allowed 5 hits and a walk while striking out 5.
Final Thoughts:
Just like yesterday, the pitching leaves a lot to be desired but the offense was rocking again. The bats pounded out 27 runs in three games against the O's although the warts are there. Chris Sale and Corey Kluber got hammered and Houck got tagged in the fifth inning. If Alex Cora manages this year like he did in 2021 when he wore out the bullpen in the first half, this is going to be a long year. The offense isn't going to be this explosive all season but its fun to watch so far. If Trevor Story were to come back healthy to put Kike as sixth man, this team would be a heck of a lot better. So far Yoshida, Duvall and Turner have been excellent additions but Duvall is a career .220 hitter, its not going to last. That's why the pitching needs to step up when the offense reverts back to normal. Still, winning two out of three against an AL East team when it didn't happen until August of last year is an improvement. The news gets even better as the lowly Pittsburgh Pirates are coming to Fenway for the next three games. Taking two out of three from them would be crucial to start the year on a good streak. Tomorrow night Kutter Crawford makes his season debut against Johan Oviedo of Pittsburgh. The game begins at 7:10 PM at Fenway Park.
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