Red Sox off to best start in their 118-year history

Red Sox rookie manager Alex Cora cracked a smile when asked how he felt when he learned it was the best start in team history.

“I just heard it for the first time,” Cora said after Boston beat visiting Baltimore 10-3 on Saturday to get to 12-2.

In 118 years, the Red Sox had never reached 10 games over .500 that soon. Only once in 1918 had Boston started 11-2.

“I’ve been saying it for a while we’ve been playing good baseball for a while, regardless of spring training,” Cora said. “We’re playing clean and fast and pitching. We’re proud of what they’re doing.”

Hanley Ramirez hit a tworun homer, Andrew Benintendi had a two-run single and an RBI double, and J.D. Martinez homered for the Red Sox.

“Our offense is doing what it’s doing, and our pitching and our defense is consistent. We’re dangerous,” Benintendi said.

Alex Cobb (0-1) was roughed up in his Orioles debut, giving up eight runs in 3 2/3 innings. He signed a $57 million, fouryear deal as a free agent on March 21 after spending all 11 years of his pro career in Tampa Bay’s organization.

CUBS 14, BRAVES 10 >> Javy Baez had a three-run double as host Chicago scored nine times in the eighth inning on just three hits, rallying past Atlanta in cold, wet and windy conditions at Wrigley Field. The Cubs trailed 10-2 in the sixth inning. ANGELS 5, ROYALS 3 >> Mike Trout, Justin Upton and Luis Valbuena homered as Los Angeles won its seventh straight, beating Kansas City with the final innings played with snow falling. The Angels won their ninth consecutive road game. RANGERS 6, ASTROS 5 >> Ronald Guzman’s first career homer tied the game in the eighth inning, and he put the Rangers ahead with an infield single in the 10th as visiting Texas rallied from five runs down.