Opening Day Recap & Toronto Look Ahead

The Red Sox returned to Fenway Park on Friday afternoon. Before the 2025 squad took the field, the 1975 American League champion team was honored. Baseball Hall of Famers Jim Rice, Carlton Fisk were there along with the captain of the 1975 squad, Carl Yastrzemski, who throw out the first pitch to skipper Alex Cora.

1967 MVP Carl Yastrzemski (right #8) threw out the ceremonial first pitch on Friday afternoon. “Yaz” played his whole 23-year career with the Red Sox, taking them to the World Series in ‘67 and 1975. He was elected to the Hall of Fame in 1989.

(Photo Courtesy: MLB.com)

Opening Series Recap

Game One was wild. The Sox jumped all over the Cards' starter Eric Fedde for five runs in the first inning. Everyone in the Red Sox lineup got up to the plate in the first inning. Trevor Story hit a three-run home run in the inning, and Fedde allowed another on the next pitch to Wilyer Abreu, who walloped it at 110 MPH off the bat. The Cardinals plated three runs in the fourth, as well as another in the fifth and seventh to make the score 8-6 in favor of Boston. The Sox scored three in the bottom of the frame to add to their lead and scored another pair in the next inning to make it 13-6. Cooper Criswell came on in the ninth, however, he gave up three runs, causing Aroldis Chapman to come in and get the save. Buehler pitched okay with five innings, five earned runs, and four strikeouts. He gave up two home runs and seven hits and will pitch in the final game of the upcoming Toronto series.

Game Two was originally scheduled for Saturday evening but got moved to Sunday afternoon because of bad weather. In the first game, both teams scored in the first. The Sox added a run in the bottom of the fifth when Rafael Devers hit his first home run for a 2-1 lead. The Red Birds tied it back up in the sixth and took a two-run lead in the top of the eighth after catcher Pedro Pagés doubled to gain the lead. Cards manager Oliver Marmol brought in closer Ryan Hesley to close out the game, but he walked four batters, including the tying run with two outs. In the bottom of the tenth, Wilyer Abreu (who did not start the game) walked the game off, scoring the ghost runner from second base to win the game. Sean Newcomb pitched his first game at Fenway as a Red Sock and did well. The Brockton kid went 4.2 innings only giving up a run and striking out five.

Game Three saw 27th man Hunter Dobbins make his first major league start. He went five innings, giving up eight hits, but only two runs in his debut. Cardinals starter Miles Mikolas gave up eleven hits and nine runs in 2.2 innings before being yanked. Everyone in the starting lineup got a hit, Bregman hit his second homer of the season, Devers went 4-4 with two doubles and three RBIs, Duran went 3-5 with a double and a pair of RBIs. Center fielder Ceddanne Rafaela went 3-4 with a stolen base to bring his batting average up above the Mendoza line. It was a massacre, the most runs the Sox have scored this season, and tied the Cubs for the second most runs this season (Yankees 20, 3/29 vs Milwaukee).

Game Recaps

Game One: Red Sox 13, Cardinals 9

Game Two: Red Sox 5, Cardinals 4

Game Three: Red Sox 18, Cardinals 7

Series MVP: Wilyer Abreu, 6-12 AB, 4 RBI, BB, Walk off single in game two

Toronto Series Preview

Game One: Richard Fitts vs Easton Lucus Monday 6:45PM

Game Two: Garrett Crochet vs José Berríos Tuesday 6:45PM

Game Three: Tanner Houck vs Kevin Gausman Wednesday 6:45PM

Game Four: Walker Buehler vs Chris Bassitt Thursday 4:10PM

The Toronto Blue Jays come to town for a four-game series this week. Fitts, Crochet, Houck, and Buehler are making starts in that order for the games. Fitts was supposed to start Saturday, but got moved with Hunter Dobbins being the 27th man on the roster. He went six innings with four strikeouts and took the loss in his last start against the Rangers. Crochet was great last time out against the O’s with eight innings, four hits, and eight strikeouts. Houck got a no-decision against Baltimore, hurling four innings, giving up three earned runs while striking out six. Walker Buehler won last time out against St Louis in the Fenway opener. “Buehtane” went five innings, giving up five earned and seven hits, but striking out four.

Red Sox Overall Record: 6-4

Blue Jays Overall Record: 5-5