Big blasts and a hot start for the Red Sox new ace got the delayed start to the season off to a strong start.
Six innings of two-run ball from David Price and home runs from Mookie Betts and David Ortiz helped the Red Sox earn a 6-2 victory over the Cleveland Indians for the team’s first win of the season.
Monday’s opener was postponed before the gates opened in Progressive Field, where the wind chill dipped temperatures into the upper teens. It was warmer — 34 degrees — and sunny Tuesday, but there also thousands of empty seats as many fans couldn’t afford to take a second day off work
Betts’ shot came in the third inning, scoring Jackie Bradley Jr. Betts was 2-for-5 in the game, and he added a spectacular catch in the fifth inning with the score tied, 2-2.
Ortiz began his farewell season with a bang, connecting for his 504th career homer in the ninth. Big Papi tied Hall of Famer Eddie Murray for 26th place on the career list. Ortiz also doubled.
Brock Holt added an RBI single for Boston, and Travis Shaw added a run on a wild pitch by Cleveland starter Corey Kluber.
David Price was effective in his first outing in a Red Sox uniform, scattering five hits and walking just two. He struck out 10, finishing with two earned runs on 103 pitches. The strong start for Price gave the team an immediate payoff after they signed the left-hander to a seven-year, $217 million contract. Boston is hoping Price can push them back into contention in the AL East after the club finished last in the division the past two seasons.
Junichi Tazawa, Koji Uehara and new closer Craig Kimbrel showed Sox fans a glimpse of what the bullpen would look like this season. Each tossed a shutout inning in the win. It was not a save situation for Kimbrel.
In his first game at first base, Hanley Ramirez looked comfortable and even made a few solid defensive plays for Boston. He also added two hits at the plate including a ninth-inning shot that was nearly a home run but was hit so hard off the wall that Ramirez settled for a single.
Betts, Ortiz, Shaw, Ramirez and Holt each had two hits for the Red Sox.
Francisco Lindor was the only Cleveland batter with more than one hit for the Indians. Corey Kluber took the loss for Cleveland, allowing four earned runs in 5.1 innings.
Indians pitchers combined to allow 11 hits and six walks on the day.
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