Red Sox rout Phillies for Opening Day win
PHILADELPHIA
—To say Clay Buchholz out-dueled Cole Hamels in the Red Sox’ season
opener on Monday would imply that Hamels brought a sword to the fight.
Buchholz won this one in a landslide, leading the Red Sox to an 8-0 win over the Phillies and their No. 1 starter.
Buchholz sliced his way through the feeble Phillies lineup like it was a spring training tune-up and the Phillies were late for dinner. He threw sinking fastballs, disappearing changeups and knee-bending curves that mocked timid hitters as they turned around and walked to the dugout.
Just the Sox’ second Opening Day starter in five years (Jon Lester has started the last four), Buchholz finished seven shutout innings with just three hits and one walk while striking out nine in a performance that deserved all 10’s from the judges.
THREE STRIKES:
1. The Phillies sold 45,549 tickets for this one, but might’ve sold more if the fans knew what kind of entertainers the Red Sox were bringing to town. They hit five home runs and made a pair of acrobatic plays in the field, courtesy of Dustin Pedroia’s glove pick and Shane Victorino’s wall-banging catch. Pedroia homered twice, Hanley Ramirez homered twice and Mookie Betts might've had the longest homer of the day, a towering shot to the last rows of the left-field bleachers.
2. Hamels had allowed 14 home runs in 30 starts last year, but allowed four solo shots before the Red Sox chased him out of the game in the fifth inning. He wasn’t all bad — he only allowed five hits on the day — but was erratic with his command the Sox made him pay when he missed. The Phillies might’ve had unrealistic expectations when discussing trades for the 31-year-old Hamels in the offseason, reportedly asking the Red Sox for Blake Swihart and/or Betts, but the Red Sox have maintained their faith in their rotation.
3. Shane Victorino received a standing ovation during his return to Citizens Bank. The former Phillies outfielder gave a tip of the cap, then played his heart out, charging into the right-field wall to make a catch in the fifth inning and using his legs to steal third base in the second.
GAME BALL: Split it between Buchholz and Pedroia. Buchholz was everything the Sox wanted him to be, and more. Pedroia has been saying he's healthy all offseason and just got a chance to show it. He was spectactular in every phase of the game.
Buchholz won this one in a landslide, leading the Red Sox to an 8-0 win over the Phillies and their No. 1 starter.
Buchholz sliced his way through the feeble Phillies lineup like it was a spring training tune-up and the Phillies were late for dinner. He threw sinking fastballs, disappearing changeups and knee-bending curves that mocked timid hitters as they turned around and walked to the dugout.
Just the Sox’ second Opening Day starter in five years (Jon Lester has started the last four), Buchholz finished seven shutout innings with just three hits and one walk while striking out nine in a performance that deserved all 10’s from the judges.
THREE STRIKES:
1. The Phillies sold 45,549 tickets for this one, but might’ve sold more if the fans knew what kind of entertainers the Red Sox were bringing to town. They hit five home runs and made a pair of acrobatic plays in the field, courtesy of Dustin Pedroia’s glove pick and Shane Victorino’s wall-banging catch. Pedroia homered twice, Hanley Ramirez homered twice and Mookie Betts might've had the longest homer of the day, a towering shot to the last rows of the left-field bleachers.
2. Hamels had allowed 14 home runs in 30 starts last year, but allowed four solo shots before the Red Sox chased him out of the game in the fifth inning. He wasn’t all bad — he only allowed five hits on the day — but was erratic with his command the Sox made him pay when he missed. The Phillies might’ve had unrealistic expectations when discussing trades for the 31-year-old Hamels in the offseason, reportedly asking the Red Sox for Blake Swihart and/or Betts, but the Red Sox have maintained their faith in their rotation.
3. Shane Victorino received a standing ovation during his return to Citizens Bank. The former Phillies outfielder gave a tip of the cap, then played his heart out, charging into the right-field wall to make a catch in the fifth inning and using his legs to steal third base in the second.
GAME BALL: Split it between Buchholz and Pedroia. Buchholz was everything the Sox wanted him to be, and more. Pedroia has been saying he's healthy all offseason and just got a chance to show it. He was spectactular in every phase of the game.
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