Boston Red Sox Smack Five Homers to Bury Phillies in Opener
Apr 6, 2015; Philadelphia, PA, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Hanley Ramirez (13) is congratulated by designated hitter David Ortiz (34) after hitting a home run against the Philadelphia Phillies during the fifth inning at Citizens bank Park. Mandatory Credit: Bill Streicher-USA TODAY Sports
The Boston Red Sox knocked off the Philadelphia Phillies in their season opener on Monday afternoon, 8-0. Boston clubbed five homers, including two from Dustin Pedroia and Hanley Ramirez. Clay Buchholz was brilliant in his season debut as he made easy work of the opposition.
Boston had set their sights on acquiring Philadelphia’s Opening Day starter Cole Hamels because of the dominance in which he generally has over opposing batters. In 2014, Hamels surrendered just 14 homers in 200+ innings of work.
On Monday, the Red Sox tagged Hamels for four dingers in five innings of work. He exited the game having allowed four earned runs, four hits and three walks. Hamels did rack up six strikeouts.
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Pedroia put the Red Sox out in front early in the first inning with a solo shot to left off of Hamels. Mookie Betts followed up in the third inning with a line-drive homer to left. In the fifth inning, Hanley Ramirez stroked a blast to left before Pedroia connected on his second homer of the contest.
The offensive onslaught did not end their. Boston loaded the bases in the ninth. Ramirez stepped to the dish and ripped a towering grand slam down the left field line off of Jake Diekman. His blast ricocheted off the foul pole.
Pedroia finished the game 3-for-5 with two runs scored. Ramirez tallied five RBI and Betts had two hits. David Ortiz and Pablo Sandoval had quiet games, combining to go 0-for-9.
Despite Boston’s impressive showcase of offensive power, it was Buchholz’s lights-out performance which stole the show. Pitching in his first career Opening Day start, the 30-year-old veteran righty threw the ball with conviction as he appears more than ready to lead the pitching staff in 2015.
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Buchholz tossed seven scoreless innings and earned his first victory of the new season as a result. He struck out nine Philadelphia batters, walked just one and yielded three hits. The Phillies failed to reach third base until the seventh inning.
Junichi Tazawa was called upon to pitch the eighth inning and did so without allowing a hit. Tommy Layne entered the game in the ninth and closed the door with ease.
Pedroia’s multi-homer game was his first since September of 2011. The accomplishment also marked the first time a Boston hitter has hit two homer runs on Opening Day since 1973. Betts became the youngest Red Sox player to smash a homer in an opener since 1965. Ramirez now has 17 career multi-homer games in his career.
Boston and Philadelphia will play the second game of their three game set on Wednesday evening.