The Boston Red Sox went on a hit parade on Opening Day with a 13-2 beating of the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park Friday night.
No fans, no Chris Sale, no Mookie Betts, no problem for the Boston Red Sox who took care of business on Opening Day with an 13-2 whipping of the Baltimore Orioles Friday night at Fenway Park.
It wasn’t the same type of electricity as it would have been if the season started as normal but starting pitcher Nathan Eovaldi provided an electricity in the form of a 100-mph fastball on his first pitch of the game that really sparked the tone of the night.
Without Sale or Eduardo Rodriguez or David Price, Eovaldi got the call as the Opening Day starter and played the role quite fine. Behind an offensive explosive, the Red Sox hard-throwing righty controlled the mound with six solid innings, giving up just one run on five hits and striking out four.
But, as good as Nathan Eovaldi was, it was the Red Sox lineup that showed they still had quite a bit of juice despite the loss of Betts, who is enjoying a monster contract extension in Hollywood.
With contributions from everyone in the lineup from J.D. Martinez to Jackie Bradly Jr. to newcomers Jose Peraza and Kevin Pillar, the Boston Red Sox batting order got to Orioles starter Tommy Milone with four runs in the third inning and tattooed Baltimore relievers with another 6 runs in the fourth inning.
Without Mitch Moreland and Alex Verdugo in the lineup, it was a great sign for Martinez and crew.
"“We have a good lineup. Obviously, we lost Mook, which is a big bat,” J.D. Martinez said following the game, via MLB.com. “But if you look at what this lineup is very capable of doing, it can be scary.”"
If Game 1 of 60 is any indication of how this season will go for the Boston Red Sox, it will be scary indeed if they find more solid starting pitching. With many players deserving some praise, here are three who really stood out on Opening Day at Fenway Park.
3. Kevin Pillar an underrated addition to the Boston Red Sox
Kevin Millar, Johnny Gomes, Steve Pearce…Kevin Pillar?
With a strong Boston Red Sox debut on Friday night, fans have to wonder if the veteran outfielder will be one of those underrated additions that propel the team to greater pastures.
In getting the nod over Alex Verdugo in the team’s first game against the Baltimore Orioles, Pillar showed off what he can do with his bat. In going 3-for-5 with 3 RBI’s, the veteran outfielder not only made a strong first impression in a Red Sox uniform but showcased how deep the outfield is even without Mookie Betts.
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With Andrew Benintendi and Jackie Bradley Jr.(3-for-4 with a HR) making offensive contributions, Kevin Pillar was just out to prove he will make an impact either defensively or offensively whenever he gets a chance to get in the lineup.
That opportunity came right off the bat, and he delivered.
"“The one thing that I promised myself, watching this team from afar is they all give really competitive at-bats,” Pillar said, via NESN. “Being here for a couple months now, getting a chance to talk to these guys, our hitting coaches they work their butts off putting together a plan. And for me it was (less) about my individual results but making sure I bought into the team plan because I saw what id did in that first exhibition game with Mitch (Moreland) hitting that home run, the guys starting with the plan that we set up. And it might not be you with the big day, but it’s just kind of passing the baton, allowing guys behind you to set up the pitcher, looking for stuff they want.”"
With the type of approach Kevin Pillar explained following his big night debut, it should be a solid offensive season for the Boston Red Sox bats, especially with the team’s ability to weave players like Mitch Moreland, Pillar, Alex Verdugo and Michael Chavis in and out of the lineup.
This 60-game sprint will really emphasize going with the hot bat and keeping all the hitters ready.
2. Jose Peraza has monster Boston Red Sox debut
Another notable name missing in the Boston Red Sox lineup was second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who really haven’t been on the field for the team in the last couple seasons.
As has been the case during those seasons, one of the biggest questions entering this 60-game 2020 MLB season is who will hold down second base for the Red Sox.
Well, newcomer Jose Peraza staked his claim on Opening Day by going 4-for-5 with two RBI doubles in the 13-2 beating of the Baltimore Orioles. Following the game Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke talked up his second baseman who he knew had the type of offensive ability he displayed Friday night.
FIRST RUN OF THE 2020 SEASON! pic.twitter.com/kij3HLi1Sp
— Red Sox (@RedSox) July 25, 2020
"“He doesn’t waste a lot of time on the first pitch,” Roenicke said, via NESN. “If he sees it and it’s in there he rips it. So, I know that’s big for him with the confidence and just to continue on knowing that what he did, the changes that he made in his swing carried over (into Opening Day).”"
If the Boston Red Sox get that type of production from their second baseman on a consistent basis, they could have quite an offensive infield with Rafael Devers at third, Xander Bogaerts at shortstop and the combination of Michael Chavis and Mitch Moreland at first base.
3. Nathan Eovaldi embraces role of Boston Red Sox ace
Boston Red Sox starter Nathan Eovaldi has the stuff to be great. It is just a matter of consistency and health as he proved during the team’s 2018 World Series run.
In a shortened season without Chris Sale and Eduardo Rodriguez sidelined for at least another week, all eyes were on Eovaldi Friday night and he delivered.
After being staked to a 10-0 lead, Nathan Eovaldi was basically on cruise control. In tossing six innings, giving up one run on just five hits, the hard-throwing righty set the tone for the Boston Red Sox starting rotation with the type of performance the team needs out of him.
In tossing 89 pitches, the competitive nature of Eovaldi was what really shined in the 13-2 victory. He was simply in command and would’ve been victorious even if the team didn’t go on an offensive explosion. That command is something that really made Red Sox manager Ron Roenicke smile after the game.
"“Yeah, I thought it was really good,” Roenicke said in a postgame conference via Zoom, as transcribed by NESN. “I thought he got a little bit tired there in the last inning, the sixth inning. But he did exactly what we needed him to do. Commanded his pitches well, obviously his fastball, first pitch of the game as 100…but he threw some good splits, some really good curveballs, cutter was good. I thought everything he did was exactly what I think he wanted and what we wanted from him.”"
More of that out of Nathan Eovaldi could make for a very interesting season for the Boston Red Sox if they get a healthy and strong Eduardo Rodriguez back and either Martin Perez or Ryan Weber (if not both) step up and become solid pitchers in the rotation.