The Boston Red Sox began their 2024 season on the West Coast Friday night against the Seattle Mariners, winning 6-4 to start 1-0. They will play their first 10 games of the season on the West Coast, starting with four games against the Mariners, followed by three games against the Oakland A’s and three games against the Los Angeles Angels before returning home for the Home Opener against the Baltimore Orioles on April 9. So, what are the key takeaways from last night’s win?
Red Sox Notes: Brayan Bello has signed a six-year contract deal for $55 million with the Red Sox. He made his first Opening Day start at the age of 24, becoming the youngest starter since Aaron Sele in 1995. Bello worked well over five innings, allowing two runs on five hits without issuing a walk and striking out two. Larry Vanover, the home plate umpire, hosed Bello on a few calls.
Bullpen
The Boston bullpen is one of the team’s strengths, and yesterday night they combined to go four innings, giving two runs on three hits while walking one and striking out seven. Isaiah Campbell was the first to be called into relief, going one inning. He would also start the seventh inning, but gave up a leadoff single, prompting Joely Rodriguez to come in and give up a two-run home run to Dylan Moore, resulting in both Rodriguez and Campbell giving up one run on one hit; Campbell struck out one, Rodriguez struck out two, and neither issued a walk. Chris Martin and Kenley Jansen, both back-end relievers, performed their jobs. Martin spent one inning giving
Lineup
If the Red Sox lineup can stay healthy and take the necessary strides ahead, that may be a benefit for the team. Last night, all nine starters had at least one hit, with Connor Wong and Rafael Devers each getting two. Devers went 2-5 with a two-run home run in the third inning, and Wong went 2-4 with an RBI. Ceddanne Rafaela made the Red Sox roster out of spring training and went 1-4 with a run and an RBI on his first Opening Day with the club. Tyler O’Neill set a record with a solo home run in the top of the eighth, his fifth consecutive Opening Day home run; he
Summary
Tonight’s game begins at 9:40 p.m., with Nick Pivetta on the mound for the Red Sox versus George Kirby. Pivetta made five starts in spring, going 0-1 with a 5.00 ERA, a 1.17 WHIP, and 22 strikeouts over 18 innings. Kutter Crawford will face Logan Gilbert on Saturday, followed by Garrett Whitlock and Bryce Miller on Sunday.
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