GOODNEWS: Star man makes history over red sox victory, Alex Cora’s losing streak ends!!!
Red Sox’ Rafael Devers celebrates with Enmanuel Valdez #47 after hitting a two-run home run during the third inning Thursday in Seattle. (Photo by Alika Jenner/
SEATTLE — Manager Alex Cora joked when he was asked before the Red Sox’ season opener Thursday why he was starting right-handed hitter Tyler O’Neill in right field instead of left-handed hitting outfielder Wilyer Abreu against Seattle righty Luis Castillo.
“I’ve got a five-game losing streak on Opening Day and he has a four-game home run streak going into Opening Day,” Cora said. “So analytics. Very simple.”
O’Neill made history. He blasted a solo homer in the eighth inning — his fifth straight Opening Day home run — and the Red Sox won 6-4 over the Mariners at T-Mobile Park.
Cora had never won an Opening Day game in five previous attempts as Red Sox manager.
O’Neill, who Boston acquired from the Cardinals in the offseason, set a major league record with his fifth consecutive Opening Day home run. He surpassed Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58) who all went four consecutive seasons with an Opening Day home run.
O’Neill eighth inning blast, which went 394 feet to right-center field, put the Red Sox ahead 6-4.
Rafael Devers put the Red Sox ahead 2-0 in the third inning when he smashed a 400-foot home run to left-center field. Enmanuel Valdez was on base after singling to lead off the inning.
Devers also crush a 110 mph double when Boston went ahead 4-2 in the fifth inning.
Bello earns the victory
Red Sox starter Brayan Bello allowed five hits and no walks while striking out two in 5 innings to earn the win in his first ever Opening Day start. He gave up a two-run homer in the fourth.
The righty threw 36 sinkers, averaging 96.1 mph and topping out at 98 mph, per Baseball Savant. He mixed in 28 changeups and 20 sliders. He got five swings-and-misses, including five with his changeup.
Other scoring
Triston Casas grounded into an RBI force-out in the fifth to put Boston ahead 4-2.
Connor Wong’s RBI single in the sixth made it 5-2 Boston. It scored Rafaela who tripled to left field with one out.
Devers and Wong had two hits each.
Boston went 3-0 in the fourth inning. O’Neill reached after grounding into a force-out and advanced to third base with one out on Masataka Yoshida’s double to right. O’Neill scored on Ceddanne Rafaela’s ground ball to third. Third baseman Josh Rojas tried to throw out O’Neill at the plate but his throw bounced off O’Neill’s helmet. It was ruled an RBI fielder’s choice.
The Mariners cut it to 3-2 in the bottom of the fourth when Mitch Haniger crushed a two-run homer off Bello.
