The Boston Red Sox kicked off their 2024 campaign last night on the West Coast against the Seattle Mariners, they won 6-4 to start the season 1-0. They will play their first ten games of the season on the West Coast with four games against the Mariners, then three games against the Oakland A’s, and then three games against the Los Angeles Angels before coming home for their Home Opener against the Baltimore Orioles on April 9th. So what are some takeaways from last night’s win?
Red Sox Notes
Brayan Bello
Bello signed a contract extension for six years and $55 million to stay with the Red Sox. He made his first Opening Day start at 24-years-old which is the youngest Opening Day starter since 1995 which was Aaron Sele. Bello pitched well going five innings giving up two runs on five hits; he didn’t issue a walk and struck out two. Bello got hosed on some calls by home plate umpire Larry Vanover.
Bullpen
The Boston bullpen is one of the strengths of this team and last night they combined to go four innings allowing two runs on three hits; they combined to walk one and struck out seven. Isaiah Campbell was the first to be called into relief going one inning, he would start the seventh inning as well but gave up a leadoff single leading to Joely Rodriguez coming in and he gave up a two-run home run to Dylan Moore which led both Rodriguez and Campbell to give up one run on one hit; Campbell struck out one while Rodriguez struck out two, neither issued a walk. The two back-end relievers did their job in Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen. Martin went one inning giving up a hit and striking out two, while Jansen went one inning, he didn’t give up a hit but walked one and struck out two picking up his first save of the season.
Lineup
This Red Sox lineup if they can all stay healthy and take the steps forward needed they could be a positive for this team. Last night all nine hitters in the starting lineup had a hit with Connor Wong and Rafael Devers each having two hits; Devers went 2-5 with a two-run home run in the Top of the Third, and Wong went 2-4 with an RBI. Ceddanne Rafaela made the team out of spring and in his first Opening Day with the Red Sox he went 1-4 with a run and an RBI. Tyler O’Neill set a record with a solo home run in the Top of the Eighth which is the fifth straight Opening Day he has hit a home run; he finished going 1-3 with two runs scored, a stolen base, and a walk.
Summary
Tonight’s game will be at 9:40 PM and the Red Sox will have Nick Pivetta on the mound going up against George Kirby. Pivetta this spring made five starts going 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts in 18 innings. Saturday’s game will feature Kutter Crawford going up against Logan Gilbert, and the finale on Sunday will be Garrett Whitlock going against Bryce Miller.
