For the first time in 298 days, the Boston Red Sox played a countable baseball game Friday night. The bats took off in the 2020 season opener, pounding out 17 hits, and making it look easy in a 13-2 pounding of the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. Baltimore was also the last team Boston played back on September 29 in the 2019 season finale.
Four doubles in the third inning by Jackie Bradley, JD Martinez, Jose Peraza, and Kevin Pillar made it 4-0 Sox. The two baggers by Peraza and Martinez were RBI doubles, while the one for Pillar drove in two. The home team continued the onslaught in the fourth when Michael Chavis and Bradley Jr. walked, and Peraza singled to load the bases with noone out. Andrew Benentendi walked to drive in a run, and then Martinez followed with a two run double to extend the lead to 7-0. Xander Bogaerts, Pillar, and Christian Vazquez added RBI singles in the six run frame. Bradley Jr. hit a two run double in the sixth, and Peraza added an RBI two bagger as well to finish the Boston scoring. The Red Sox pounded eight doubles, an opening game team record.
Nathan Eovaldi (1-0) went 6.0 innings in his first ever opening day start in the win for Boston. He allowed one run on four hits and added four strikeouts. Andrew Brice and Phillips Valdez combined to pitch the final three innings. Tommy Milone (0-1) allowed four runs on four hits in 3.0 innings in the loss for Baltimore. Renato Nunez had an RBI double and Rio Ruiz had a solo homer for the Orioles scoring. Peraza had four hits with two RBI, Bradley had three hits and two RBI, while Martinez and Pillar each had three hits and three knocked in to pace a good night for the Red Sox offense.
Boston sends lefty Martin Perez to the hill Saturday afternoon at 1:35 p.m. to face Alex Cobb in game two of the three game weekend series.
