Comeback bid falls short in loss
BOSTON — Give the Red Sox credit for this much, they made things interesting in the end.
On a day when it felt like the game was as good as done by the middle innings, the offense came to life and clawed its way back down the stretch, ultimately falling one swing short in their 10-9 Opening Day loss to the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
The home team scored five runs of their runs from the eighth inning on, and in the bottom of the ninth, Masataka Yoshida came to the plate with two on, one out, and a chance to win the game with one swing.
Boston’s new left-fielder grounded into what should have been a game-ending double play, but sloppy defense by Baltimore gave the Red Sox new life, albeit briefly. Jorge Mateo botched the throw to first, and Yoshida advanced to second on the error. That brought Adam Duvall to the plate with the tying run at second, but he struck out to end the game.
Devers starts off strong
One silver lining from Thursday’s loss? The play of Boston’s old-new $313.5 million man, Rafael Devers.
The 26-year-old third baseman had a strong Game 1 showing after notably struggling in the World Baseball Classic. He went 2-for-5 with a pair of doubles, two runs scored, and a quick game-tying RBI groundout. He drove in Alex Verdugo, who led off the game with a triple, for Boston’s first run of the season in the bottom of the first.
He did also strike out with two runners on in the bottom of the ninth, but on a day where the Red Sox pitchers struggled and the offense took a while to get going, Devers set the table for his teammates and gave the Red Sox a chance to make their run at the end.
Mixed day at short for Kiké
With Xander Bogaerts in San Diego and Trevor Story out for at least the first half due to elbow surgery, Kiké Hernández is stepping in as the Red Sox everyday shortstop.
How’d things go on Day 1? A lot to like but some things to clean up.
Hernández made two highlight-reel plays on the day. In the top of the third he made a nice over the shoulder catch in shallow center field, and in the top of the fifth he helped out Ryan Brasier by starting an impressive 6-4-3 double play in front of the second base bag.
He also committed an error in the eighth, throwing well wide of Devers at third trying to nail the lead runner. That mistake did not ultimately cost the Red Sox, but it will be worth watching to see how Hernández proves to be at the position.
Have a day, Adley
Adley Rutschman is one of the brightest young stars in baseball, and the Orioles catcher’s talents were on full display to the Fenway Park faithful on Thursday.
The second-year standout went 5-for-5 with a first-inning solo home run, a walk, and four RBI, driving in at least one run in three of his five plate appearances.
Rutschman was also thrown out trying to stretch a single into a double twice, and on one of those plays, he slid awkwardly into second and accidentally cleated Christian Arroyo in the head with the back of his heel. Arroyo was shaken up but remained in the game.
Paxton takes step forward
James Paxton (right hamstring strain) threw two innings during a bullpen session on Wednesday, hitting 95-96 mph on the radar gun.
“He felt good, I texted with him yesterday and I saw him today, he’s in a good spot physically,” Cora said prior to Thursday’s game. “He felt a little bit off as far as command, but stuff-wise very similar to what we saw in his last outing against the Twins.”
Paxton was placed on the 15-day injured list to start the season but is expected to be back on the mound for a rehab start in either Worcester or Portland next week. Cora suggested Paxton is about a week or two behind Brayan Bello in his progression, putting him in position to possibly return by late April.