Red Sox Opening Day Fun Facts
BOSTON (CBS) - The Boston Red Sox open up their 113th season Monday afternoon against the New York Yankees in the Bronx.
To get you ready for Monday's opener, here are a few Red Sox opening day facts:
- The Red Sox are 54-57-1 all-time on Opening Day.
- This is the 73rd time overall that the Red Sox have opened the regular season on the road and third year in a row (31-40-1).
- Including 2013, the Red Sox have opened on the road in 15 of the last 18 seasons, beginning in 1996. They've gone 6-8 in those games, and last won a road opener in 2008 against the A's in Tokyo.
Read: Red Sox-Yankees Preview
- Jon Lester will make his third career Opening Day start, all in the last three years. He will become the first Red Sox pitcher to start three straight season-openers since Pedro Martinez did it in each of his seven seasons with the club. The last Red Sox lefty to make three straight Opening Day starts was Mel Parnell from 1952-54.
- Overall, this will be the 20th season in which a left-hander has started Boston's first game of the season (8-11).
- The Red Sox have taken six of their last eight Opening Day contests against New York since 1964, and are 11-16-1 in 28 previous season-opening games against New York.
Read: 2013 Red Sox Predictions
- Boston is trying to become the first team to open the season with a win over the Yankees in the Bronx since the White Sox did it in 1982.
- Including the 2010 Yankees, Boston's last three Opening Day foes have reached at least that season's ALCS.
- With C.C. Sabathia getting the start for New York, it marks the fourth time in club history that both Opening Day starters have been lefties. The Red Sox lost each of the three previous times.
- The Red Sox are 3-3 in regular season action on April 1, including a 1-3 record in four Opening Day games on April Fools Day.
Read: 13 Questions For 2013 Red Sox
- Dustin Pedroia has hit safely in all six Red Sox openers since 2007, batting .409 with two doubles, two homers, four RBI, and two walks. It's the longest Opening Day hitting streak by a Red Sox since Mo Vaughn hit safely in seven straight season-opening contests from 1992-98.
- Carl Yastrzemski has hit a team-record six Opening Day homers.
