Boston Red Sox beat the Mariners 6-4
After one of their strongest cactus seasons, no one can blame the Seattle Mariners for heading into Thursday night’s season opener against the Boston Red Sox with a certain swagger and belief. The Mariners left Spring training with the most hits and home runs of any club. Add the brimming optimism to a starting pitching rotation some dubbed the best in the game one can see why the Trident was up.
BIG LEAGUE UP TO OPENING PITCH
Adding fuel to the excitement of the opening day was Ichiro Suzuki’s presentation of the 2023 Silver Slugger Award.
The crowd’s anticipation of the evening hit fever pitch when Nelson Cruz signed a one-day contract to retire as a Mariner and throw the ceremonial first pitch.
CASTILLO SHARP EARLY
Starting Pitcher Luis Castillo was sharp in the first two innings with no runs and no hits. The Red Sox hitters adjusted and scored two runs in the second inning one in the fourth and fifth to chase Castillo out of the game down a 4-2. It’s not that Castillo lacked focus and command. The Red Sox hitters were better on this particular day. Red Sox third baseman Rafael Devers’s third-inning home run scored the Red Sox’s first two runs of the season.
Devers went 2-5 adding a double on his way to recording his 62nd extra base hit. Every Red Sox starting lineup member had a hit in the game. Right Fielder Tyler O’neill’s homer in the eighth inning to record his 5th consecutive opening day game with a home run. Castillo pitched five innings allowed six two walks, and four runs which were all earned, and recorded five strikeouts.
WELCOME HOME
The Mariners mounted a comeback that fell short but confirmed that this team can hit the ball and the depth to do it. Julio Rodriguez started the season with a double in the first inning and finished 1-4. The night’s biggest cheer from the 45, 337 fans in attendance came when Mitch Haniger hit his first home run of the season in the bottom of the 4th inning. Haniger went 2-3 at the plate with a single in the 7th inning and a walk in the 9th inning.
Another bright note on the offensive end was Dylan Moore’s pinch-hit home run in the 7th inning.
BETTER DAYS AHEAD
The Mariners were not going to go undefeated this season but there were enough positives from the loss for the Mariners to look ahead to Friday’s game with the Red Sox as the two teams will have four total games and a series win is very much possible. To accomplish that goal the Mariners will need to be sharper in the upcoming games with the Red Sox according to Manager Scott Servais
“We’ve got 161 left,” Servais said in is post-game interview. “Unfortunately, we weren’t going to win them all, but I would’ve liked to get off to a better start tonight. Sevais also went on to say the team was not as sharp as he would have like it to be.
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