Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu’s homers lead Red Sox to win in home opener

Alex Cora knew that his new third baseman, Alex Bregman, was excited and ready to go for his first home game at Fenway Park as a member of the Red Sox.

The two-time World Series champion couldn’t wait to get back from Baltimore to play in front of the Fenway Faithful, but this time for the home team.

Bregman was eager to get to the ballpark and enjoy his first Opening Day at Fenway Park in the home whites. That prompted the skipper to text Bregman on Thursday night.

“As far as the environment, he’s loving it,” Cora told NESN’s Tom Caron before the game. “I texted him last night, ‘Hey, bro. Don’t show up at six in the morning, please. 'We don’t need that.’ He’s having a blast so far.”

Bregman helped get the Red Sox offense going in the first after Jarren Duran led off with a single and then stole second base. Duran has three stolen bases in his first eight games. Rafael Devers followed that with a six-pitch at-bat that resulted in a walk. With the crowd buzzing eagerly, awaiting for Bregman to give them something to celebrate, he took a 2-2 92.7 mph slider and ripped it down the left field line, scoring Duran and moving Devers to third base.

“It was really cool,” Bregman said on his home debut with the Red Sox. “Playing here, you know how much of a homefield advantage the Red Sox have because of their fans. To be here playing for this organization now, it’s a lot of fun and I don’t take it for granted. It’s an honor to be here and I’m looking forward to continuing to compete.”

With momentum already beginning to shift in the Sox's favor, Trevor Story ignited the ballpark, crushing a 2-2 sweeper that soared 364 feet into the Green Monster seats, giving the Red Sox a commanding 4-0 lead.

Story’s three-run homer was his first at Fenway Park since Sept. 14, 2023, which ironically was the same day the Sox fired Chaim Bloom; who now works for the Cardinals and will take over has the head of their baseball operations next season.

“Fenway was electric,” Story said. “Everybody was on their feet it felt like the whole game and the crowd never stopped.”

On the very next pitch, Wilyer Abreu crushed a 90.2 mph cutter that was left over the heart of the plate 392 feet over the wall in right field. It was the first time the Red Sox had hit back-to-back homers in a game since Tyler O’Neill and Rob Refsynder completed the feat last September.

The Sox scored five or more runs in the first inning for the first time since April 3, 2023, when they played the Pirates.

BUEHLER?

Walker Buehler pitched poorly in his home debut, allowing five runs on seven hits, walking one, and striking out five in five innings of work. Over his first two starts, Buehler has allowed nine runs (8.68 ERA) over 9 1/3 innings.

Cardinals catcher Ivan Herrera hit a three-run shot in the fourth, and Brendan Donovan followed with a solo homer in the fifth to cut the lead to 6-5.

"It wasn't great," said Cora to characterize Buehler's outing. "He didn't execute his breaking ball, putting the ball in play. That's a pretty good offensive club; they have some left-handers there that put the ball in play; they hit the ball out of the ballpark. They're good hitters."

Buehler's two starts aren't a cause for concern just yet, but the two-time World Series champion knows he needs to be better and soon. 

"It’s been so long since I’ve been so dominant as I want to be or been the guy that I want to be," Buehler said after the game. "I’ve had it for two or three starts at a time throughout the past year and a half, especially in the playoffs. But you don’t make many playoff rosters with a 7.00, 8.00 or 9.00 ERA. I’m not going to keep hanging my hat on the fact I showed up in October. I want to show up in April, May, June, July and August."

OFFENSE CLICKING

Boston responded to the Cardinals encroaching on their lead, adding two runs in the bottom of the fifth inning, getting a leadoff walk from Bregman, a double from Triston Casas, and an RBI single from Abreu.

There was some controversy in the fifth after Kristian Campbell hit a pop fly along the right field fence that was caught by Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, allowing Casas to score. As Campbell caught the ball, a fan was reaching to also try and make a play for the foul ball, which prompted a lengthy review for potential fan interference. The original call on the field would stand, and the Red Sox went up 8-5.

Boston added three runs in the seventh inning, the third coming on a single by Devers. He was 2-for-3 with two walks and has reached safely in nine of his last 15 plate appearances. Devers is also 3-for-7 in his last two games with three walks and one strikeout.

Catcher Carlos Narváez added an RBI double in the eighth inning. He went 2-for-3 with two walks and two RBI in the win. His eighth-inning double was the first extra-base hit of his career.

RED SOX NOTABLES

Abreu had another multi-hit game, going 3-for-4 with 2 RBI, bringing his batting average to .500 (11-for-22) with 1.691 OPS through seven games.

Red Sox fans greeted Devers with chants of "Raffy! Raffy!" in the first inning. He reached base four times, walking in his first two plate appearances before adding two singles.

Brennan Bernardino was dominant in relief, striking out the side in the eighth inning.

Cooper Criswell gave up three runs (two earned) off three hits, recording just one out. The Sox had to bring in their closer Aroldis Chapman, who walked a batter but was able to earn his second save.

The Red Sox defense was sloppy at times in the game, making three errors, one belonging to Casas, who failed to catch a throw after Story made a tremendous play to prevent a ball from going up the middle into center field.

Campbell had a fielding error in the ninth as well as Bregman, who threw the ball erratically into right field over the head of Campbell at second base.

“He’s a little bit down on himself but that’s part of the growing process,” Cora said of Campbell. “That’s going to happen, it’s part of being a rookie in the big leagues but the good thing is he won’t repeat those same mistakes.”

HOME RUN CELEBRATION

Duran greeted Story and Abreu with a Wally the Green Monster mascot head after they homered in the first inning.

“Thanks to Jarren for commissioning the home run Wally head!” the Red Sox posted a video of Wally and Tessie the Green Monster presenting Duran with their new home run celebration prop.

When Duran was with the WooSox two years ago, he introduced the Holy Cross football team’s helmet as their homer celebration in the dugout.

'THANKFUL TO BE A BOSTON RED SOX'

Fresh off signing a six-year, $170 million contract extension with the Red Sox, one of the new faces of the franchise, Garrett Crochet met with the media before the home opener.

The Sox new ace leads their starting rotation, responsible for putting the organization on his shoulders during the duration of his deal. Crochet is ready for the challenge.

“With this contract comes a lot of responsibility,” Crochet said. “I intend on wearing this Red Sox uniform for the next several years with honor and respect and just being the best player I can be.”

Crochet, who was seated beside Craig Breslow, Sam Kennedy, and John Henry, expressed his gratitude that the Red Sox believe in him and his abilities on the mound. Boston instantly invested in Crochet, surrendering four prospects for the southpaw in December at the Winter Meetings. After getting to know him over the last couple of months, Breslow was ready to commit to the lefty.

"In this day and age of data-driven decision-making, I think it's really easy to appreciate the 6-foot-6 left-handed starter with a 100 mph fastball and a devastating cutter. As dominant as those pitches may be, I think it's also important to take a step back and remember that an investment like this is a commitment to a person," Breslow said. "And over the last several months we've gotten to know Garrett as a leader, as a worker, as a teammate, and as someone who is singularly focused on being the best possible pitcher for the Boston Red Sox that he can be."

"We have full confidence this is the type of guy that can lead our rotation for a long time," he added later.

After transitioning from a reliever to a starter and pitching for the worst team in baseball, Crochet is ready to establish himself as one of the game’s premier pitchers.

Boston held two years of control with Crochet prior to the massive extension. The hurler knew that he could pitch, go to free agency following the 2026 season, and earn an even bigger payday. Instead, he felt it made the most sense to sign with the Sox now and just focus on winning.

"I think when you look at the organization as a whole, it's a very well-run org., and the talent from top to bottom just gives us the opportunity to compete for years to come," Crochet said. "Along with Sam Kennedy, Bres, (Alex Cora), the entire top was just very welcoming to me, and I feel like they were that way with players throughout the minor leagues as well. It's just a very well-run organization that I look forward to being a part of."

The 25-year-old, who possesses elite stuff on the mound, also carries himself as a leader within the clubhouse.

“Results aside, I feel like it kind of just goes with how I carry myself to the field every day and in the clubhouse,” said Crochet. “There's a lot of leadership qualities that I feel like I embody that come along with a contract like that. So the two kind of go hand in hand, for sure, but I think that just being myself, it kind of comes naturally to me.”

Now that the dust is settled, Crochet and his wife no longer need to worry about trade talks or extensions; they can officially call Boston home.

“[My wife] Rachel and I were talking about it all through the offseason. Who knows what would have happened if we weren't able to somewhat take a stand for ourselves,” said Crochet. “As a player, there's not a lot of opportunity for you to have control of the situation, but it all led to being acquired by a team like the Boston Red Sox, who wanted to make that mutual commitment. So I hope that it could kind of serve as a reminder for players that you have control of situations more so than you think. And I'm just thankful to be a Boston Red Sox.”