The Boston Red Sox began their potentially promising 2025 season with Thursday’s Opening Day matchup with the Texas Rangers.
Boston rallied late for an entertaining 5-2 win over the Rangers at Globe Life Field to start the campaign on the right note. The Red Sox are 1-0 with plenty to take from the first nine innings of the season.
Here are four knee-jerk reactions from Boston’s Opening Day win:
Garrett Crochet’s Stuff Is Advertised
Crochet made his first real start for the Red Sox. He wasn’t perfect but he showed flashes of why Boston brought him in to anchor the staff.
Crochet allowed two runs on five hits with two walks and four strikeouts in five innings. He favored his cutter today, which generated plenty of swing-and-miss and fanned solid hitters in Marcus Semien and Corey Seager.
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His command looked like a work in progress in his first outing of the season, but the Red Sox starter put together a decent introduction on Opening Day.
Wilyer Abreu Will Fight For His Spot
Roman Anthony could eventually force his way up to Boston early this season, but Abreu made an early statement. The reigning American League Gold Glove winner ambushed a solo home run off Texas starter Nathan Eovaldi to tie the game 2-2 in the fifth inning.
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You can watch Abreu’s (and the first of the season for Boston) home run here. And he wasn’t done.
Abreu stepped to the plate with the game still tied in the ninth inning. He smashed a breaking ball out to right field for a three-run homer to put the Red Sox in front for the first time in the game.
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Two home runs, three hits and four RBIs. How’s that to start the season?
Abreu missed time in spring training with a gastrointestinal infection but responded well physically and won the day on Opening Day.
It’s Early For The Bats
Boston had a top-10 lineup in OPS for seven straight seasons. The group should be on pace for that again with the talent on the roster, but it may take some time for the Red Sox to get into a groove with just six hits on the day.
Rafael Devers struck out in his first three at-bats. Alex Bregman went hitless in his debut. The big bats of the order will be just fine.
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No need to overreact after one day at the office, especially after Abreu emerged to save the day
Garrett Whitlock (The Reliever) Is Refreshing
Whitlock is finally back in the role he thrived in from the 2021 season as a multi-inning reliever.
He got right back to work behind Crochet and bridged the way to Boston’s leverage arms with two scoreless innings. The Red Sox could have their X-Factor back this season in a big way.
Featured image via Tim Heitman/Imagn Images
