All you need to know, in quickie form, about the Red Sox' loss to the Yankees, complete with BSJ analysis and insight:
HEADLINES
Bullpen struggles: We knew that early on the Red Sox' bullpen was going to be a work in progress, and that was quickly evident on Opening Day. The Red Sox used six different relievers after Nathan Eovaldi was lifted, and while there were some big outs recorded -- ultimately, Red Sox relievers allowed the Yankees to twice tie the game, and in the bottom of the 11th, to go ahead for good. Of the six runs allowed by the Sox, three were yielded by the bullpen. There was also the matter of control, with three walks issued by relievers.
Sox let Cole off hook: Before an out had been recorded in the top of the first, the Red Sox zoomed to a quick 3-0 lead on a two-run homer by Rafael Devers and a run-scoring double from J.D. Martinez. But with a runner on second and no out and New York ace Gerrit Cole on the ropes, the Sox couldn't add on. Cole got a comebacker, a pop foul and a strikeout to strand Martinez in scoring position. Meanwhile, the Red Sox managed just one run over the next eight innings.
Eovaldi gives up rare homers: Eovaldi didn't allow a home run last year until May 29th, his 10th start of the year. But on Friday, he allowed a homer to Anthony Rizzo, the third hitter he faced in the first game. Worse, he was touched for another one three innings later -- this one to Giancarlo Stanton. Granted, both homers were Yankee Stadium specials, just clearing the wall. In fact, according to StatCast, Yankee Stadium is the only ballpark in the big leagues in which both of those balls would have gone out. Still, this was not a typical start for Eovaldi, who last year, didn't allow his second homer of the year until June 4.
TURNING POINT
In the sixth inning, the Red Sox snapped a 3-3 tie, taking a 4-3 lead on a run-scoring single from Alex Verdugo. Then loaded the bases with two outs, but Clay Holmes struck out Christian Vazquez to strand three baserunners. A base hit there would have given the Sox two more runs and a three-run cushion. Instead, they had to be content with a one-run lead which was erased two innings later.
TWO UP
Alex Verdugo: Verdugo turned in several terrific plays in left, including a sliding catch in the fifth off the bat off D.J. LeMahieu, saving at least one run. He also collected two hits, one of which was a run-scoring single.
Xander Bogaerts: Bogaerts committed a rare error in the fourth inning, which didn't prove costly. Otherwise, he was terrific, with three hits and two runs scored. His single in the top of the 10th inning temporarily put the Sox ahead by a run, though that didn't hold up.
TWO DOWN
Trevor Story: Story didn't have a lot of at-bats in spring training, having signed late, then leaving camp for the birth of his first child, so it wasn't surprising that his bat looked slow and his timing off while he was 0-for-5 in his Red Sox debut.
Kike Hernandez: After drawing a leadoff walk and coming around on the homer by Devers in the first, Hernandez went hitless over his next four plate appearances with a strikeout and two double plays.
QUOTE OF NOTE
"I don't know what it was. It wasn't good, though. I tried to do whatever to not feel it and it kind of went away for a little bit....It wasn't a normal thing that happens every day.'' Xander Bogaerts, who grabbed his hamstring after singling home the go-ahead run in the top of the 10th and limped out of the batter's box. Bogaerts is set to be further evaluated and is considered day-to-day.
STATISTICALLY SPEAKING
* The Red Sox dropped to 59-62-1 in Opening Day games.
* After going 8-1 in extra inning road games last year, the Red Sox are quickly 0-1 in that department in 2022.
* Kutter Crawford, the only player on the Red Sox who was on an Opening Day roster for the first time, was saddled with the loss.
NEWS YOU CAN USE
Reliever Matt Barnes has been battling a stiff back and was unavailable.
UP NEXT
The Red Sox and Yankees continue their series Saturday at 4:05, with RHP Nick Pivetta set to face RHP Luis Severino. The game will be shown on NESN and FS1.