Pomeranz tries to extend 16-2 start

With a homer-happy lineup and a lights-out pitching staff, the Red Sox have been mowing down the opposition since the second game of the season.

Drew Pomeranz was to make his season debut Friday night in the opener of a weekend series against the Athletics in Oakland, Calif. The left-hander strained his forearm in his first start of spring training but has made two minor-league rehab starts to prepare for the opening of his second full season with the Red Sox.

Pomeranz was trying to extend the dominance of the Red Sox’s 16-2 start, the latest victory coming Thursday night against the Angels in Anaheim when Andrew Benintendi homered and drove in three runs in the 8-2 victory.

Mookie Betts homered and J.D. Martinez and Rafael Devers also drove in runs in the seventh consecutive victory by the majorleague-leading Red Sox, who have won 16 of 17 since losing on opening day.

“We’re playing quality baseball,” said new manager Alex Cora. “We’re pretty good right now. We’re pitching, we’re playing good defense and we’re driving the ball.”

The Red Sox extended the best start in the 118-year-old franchise’s history.

“We’re having fun, and usually when you do that, you play quite well,” Benintendi said.

But the second-year slugger said the Red Sox aren’t overly excited about their first three weeks. Benintendi noted that several hard-hit balls that went for home runs in Anaheim’s pleasant weather wouldn’t have done the same in frigid Boston.

“What do we have left, 150 games?” Benintendi asked. “We hold ourselves to high standards, and we just try to go out and play well.”