03/29/24 12:05:00
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03/29 00:03 CDT Tyler O'Neill homers for record-setting 5th straight opening
day as Red Sox top Mariners 6-4
Tyler O'Neill homers for record-setting 5th straight opening day as Red Sox top
Mariners 6-4
By TIM BOOTH
AP Sports Writer
SEATTLE (AP) --- Tyler O'Neill homered in his fifth straight opening day game
to set a major league record, this time against the organization that drafted
him, and the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Thursday night.
Rafael Devers homered and doubled off Seattle ace Luis Castillo, but it was
O'Neill's homer on the first pitch from Cody Bolton in the eighth inning that
gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead and made history.
O'Neill homered the previous four opening days with St. Louis, tying him with
Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58). He was
a top prospect in the Mariners organization before being traded to St. Louis in
2017.
The homers and some solid pitching helped Boston manager Alex Cora enjoy his
first opening day win as a manager.
Devers hit an opposite-field two-run homer on an elevated fastball from
Castillo in the third inning and his one-out double in the fifth helped lead to
another run for Boston. Connor Wong added a two-out RBI single in the sixth on
a pitch well off the plate.
Boston starter Brayan Bello (1-0) pitched five innings and limited the damage
to Mitch Haniger's two-run homer after he spent last season with San Francisco.
Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for the save after recording 29 last season for
Boston.
Dylan Moore's pinch-hit, two run homer in the seventh inning pulled Seattle
within 5-4, but that's as close as Seattle would get. Two of Seattle's big
offseason additions, Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver, both experienced some of
the frustration that comes with playing at home early in the season. Each hit
deep fly balls that likely would have been homers in their former parks, but
instead became outs.
Castillo (0-1) labored through five innings as his control got away from him at
times, missing with a number of borderline pitches. Castillo, who needed 91
pitches to get through the fifth, gave up four runs and six hits.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Red Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks was placed on the 60-day IL as he continues recovery
from Tommy John surgery. ... LHP Chris Murphy was also played on the 60-day IL
with a UCL sprain. ... RHP Bryan Mata (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day IL.
... IF Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) and OF Rob Refsnyder (toe) were placed on the
10-day IL.
Mariners: IF/OF Sam Haggerty (undisclosed medical procedure) was placed on the
10-day injured list to begin the season. ... RHPs Matt Brash (elbow strain),
Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation), Gregory Santos (lat strain) and Eduardo Bazardo
(rotator cuff strain) were placed on the 15-day IL. ... Veteran IF Brian
Anderson was released, but agreed to a minor-league contract and was assigned
to Triple-A Tacoma.
UP NEXT
A pair of right-handers will face off as Nick Pivetta starts for Boston while
George Kirby takes the hill for Seattle.
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AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb
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