Few Bright Spots From Opening Weekend

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 Written By: Matthew Ferreira


Image via Maddy Meyer/ Getty Images


 While the Red Sox got swept at home on opening weekend by the Baltimore Orioles to start the season, there was little to look forward to for the rest of the 159 games ahead. Stats saying first time being swept opening weekend since 2012, which Red Sox fans know the Bobby Valentine year, was not the most fun and hope that 2021 doesn't repeat that pattern. Many fans had optimism coming into this year with the Red Sox with new acquisitions such as Kiké Hernandez and Hunter Renfroe and prospects Bobby Dalbec and Christian Arroyo supposed to be making a difference this year. Well even though this weekend looked ugly, there was a few bright spots.


 The Offense- While Xander Bogaerts, Alex Verdugo, Kiké Hernandez, Bobby Dalbec,  and Rafael Devers are a combined 2-49 you have to expect that is all going to change. Xander Bogaerts and Rafael Devers have shown us multiple times that they are all star quality hitters, and this is a small sample size and they will not finish their season like this. Same with Verdugo, Hernandez, and Dalbec they have all shown us they can hit well and it is just unfortunate that they all hit a slump this weekend. A real bright spot was J.D. Martinez goin 6-12 and hit the only home run for the Red Sox this weekend. J.D. wants to show that last year was a fluke and has said that he wants this year to be his best year yet.

 


 Pitching- While this isn't what we expected the pitching this weekend was actually pretty good. Nathan Eovaldi had a great start and may have been yanked a little too early on opening day allowing only 4 hits and 1 run over 5.1 innings pitched. He had kept the Red Sox in the game till that point. Tanner Houck came out in game 2 and dominated as well. Looking like a righty Chris Sale, Houck pitched amazing and his stat line does not even do him justice. Going 5 innings with 6 hits allowed and 2 earned runs once again kept the Red Sox in the game in the first half of the game. Houck showed off his filthy slider multiple times looking like he did not want to be sent back down to triple A.



While in game 3 the Red Sox got absolutely blown out there was one bright spot. Garrett Whitlock. The Rule 5 draft pick from the Yankees made the opening day roster. Having not pitched above A ball, Whitlock made his debut on Sunday pitching 3.1 innings allowing 3 hits and having 5 strikeouts and shutting down an Orioles offense that had just destroyed Richards and Taylor the innings before.




 Once again the Red Sox have to remember there are 159 more games and while losing 3 in a row hurts you can not let that affect you. Looking forward Nick Pivetta who had a 1.80 ERA last year looks to start tonight against the Rays in a must win game for the Red Sox to turn around from opening day weekend. 

 

 


Location: Boston, MA, USA

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