Phillies Surrender Five Home Runs To Red Sox In 8-0 Loss
PHILADELPHIA (AP) — Boston newcomer Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia each hit two home runs, Clay Buchholz threw three-hit ball over seven innings and the Red Sox beat the Philadelphia Phillies 8-0 in an interleague opener Monday.
Buchholz (1-0) showed the Red Sox they don't need to trade for any ace — namely Cole Hamels (0-1). Buchholz struck out nine and pitched like the guy who went 12-1 in 2013.
Ramirez made quite an impression in his first game since the free agent signed an $88 million, four-year contract. He hit a solo homer in the fifth and a grand slam off Jake Diekman in the ninth.
Hamels gave up five hits in five innings, striking out six. He allowed four homers for the second time in his career.
Mookie Betts also homered for Boston.
The Red Sox have been considered front-runners to land Hamels since the rebuilding Phillies made the 2008 World Series MVP available. But Boston isn't going to trade its best prospects for this version of Hamels.
Red Sox slugger David Ortiz kept both feet in the batter's box for nearly every pitch during his four at-bats, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. Ortiz made it clear in spring training he doesn't like baseball's new pace of play rules, but he adhered to them in his first game. The only time he stepped out was after fouling a ball off his foot.
The revamped Red Sox spent $183 million on Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, hoping their offense can lead them to another worst-to-first season like they had when they won the World Series in 2013.
Sandoval was 0 for 5 with two strikeouts.
Buchholz didn't allow a hit until Ryan Howard lined an 0-2 pitch for a double with two outs in the fourth. Junichi Tazawa tossed a perfect eighth and Tommy Layne finished off the three-hitter.
Pedroia hit a towering drive out to left-center in the first inning to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Betts lined one out to left leading off the third.
In the fifth, Pedroia connected again for his first multihomer game since Sept. 13, 2011, against Toronto. One out later, Ramirez hit a deep drive to left-center.
Pedroia snuffed Philadelphia's rally in the seventh inning. After consecutive one-hit hits, Pedroia made an excellent play at second base on Cody Asche's hard one-hopper and turned it into a fielder's choice. Buchholz then struck out Freddy Galvis to end the inning.
A sellout crowd enjoyed opening-day festivities at Citizens Bank Park, including players doing their traditional entrance from the outfield stands. Many seats were empty long before the game ended, a sign of what's likely to come this summer.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly threw 78 pitches in five innings in an extended spring game in Florida. Kelly has been slowed by a right biceps injury. He's eligible to come off the disabled list on Saturday, but it's not certain whether he'll start this weekend at the New York Yankees. Knuckleballer Steven Wright would make the start if Kelly doesn't.
Phillies: RHP Ken Giles was available in the bullpen after having back issues the last week of spring training.
UP NEXT
Following an off-day on Tuesday, Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello faces Phillies RHP Aaron Harang on Wednesday night. Porcello was 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA for Detroit last year. Harang was 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA for Atlanta in 2014.
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