“All right, Boston”, Ortiz told the crowd. Napoli wearing down a pitcher and Santana either doing the same or knocking runners home with a moonshot should be a common sight over the next 161 games.
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David Price’s first start for the Red Sox was essentially everything you would want it to be – though the 103 pitches and cold weather limited him to six innings. Ortiz also launched the first home run of his final season in the ninth inning, helping the Boston Red Sox walk away with a 6-2 victory.
Finding a hero wasn’t hard on this Opening Day. Maybe not if you were there and freezing to death, but for me, sitting under my daughter’s warm Frozen blanket, it was a constant joy. “I wish he would have retired this year”.
The Red Sox will be facing the Indians on Opening Day for the fourth time in franchise history, but they have never played an Opening Day game in Cleveland until this year. Ortiz got his first hit of his retirement campaign (a two-out double), but was stranded on second.
“This is the beginning of the season”.
“When the light goes, Papi goes on”, Ortiz artfully explained. The Red Sox won’t be adjusting their pennants atop the exterior wall of the press box to make room for the upcoming 2016 championship flag.
Carrasco in 201 for the Tribe went 14-12 with a 3.63 ERA.In 183.2 IP he allowed 75 runs, 74 of them earned, struck out 216 and walked 43. While the whole party isn’t there yet thanks to Carson Smith’s injury, our first look at the trio of Tazawa – Uehara – Kimbrel would suggest the plan will work just fine in the meantime. The Indians had one hit in the final five innings.
Now it was time for that Red Sox offense that we’ve heard so much about. “We understand their frustrations, believe me, we were as frustrated as them”.
As Ortiz jogged around the bases in the ninth, the red hood from his sweatshirt flapped in the cold breeze, looking more than a little like Superman’s cape. “He got that swag. He has what the game needs right now”, he said of Betts. Jackie Bradley Jr. scored on the play. “He’s showing no signs of slowing down”, Farrell said. The ball came off his bat at 106 miles an hour, evidence of his power. David Ortiz subsequently hit a gap double, but was stranded by Hanley Ramirez. It got caught in the wind and was caught at the warning track.
Betts is one of just five players in the last 20 years who have two Opening Day homers before the age of 23.
The home run was the 504th of his Ortiz’ career, tying him with Eddie Murray for 26th all time. “I know he doesn’t care about spring training”. He’s just saving it all for the season… “I’m happy he’s on my team”.
However, both dugouts were seen bundled up, playing in almost 34 degree temperatures.
Price quickly settled into the game and held the Indians hitless and scoreless through three innings, striking out six of the first 10 batters he faced, including four in a row at one point.
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Indians pitchers combined to allow 11 hits and six walks on the day. But Price stopped them there. Buchholz went 7-7 last season, but made only 18 starts because of a strained elbow. “I couldn’t feel my fingers”, he said. “Hopefully this is the first of many”.
