Red Sox rally in ninth to force extra innings, Wilyer Abreu with heroics in the 10th

Wilyer Abreu started the game on the bench with what Alex Cora described as “heavy legs.” He ended the game as the hero, delivering a walk-off RBI single off the Green Monster in the 10th, leading the Red Sox to a 5-4 win.

The Red Sox came into the bottom of the ninth down by two runs and ultimately tied the game due to Cardinals closer Ryan Helsley’s inability to throw strikes. He walked Trevor Story on five pitches to open the inning and then walked Abreu on four pitches.

Rookie sensation Kristian Campbell hit a sharp liner to the center fielder Michael Siani for the first out of the inning. Romy Gonzalez brought the Sox within a run, connecting for an RBI double into left field to make it 4-3.

Connor Wong, who broke a 0-for-20 slump earlier in the game, walked to load the bases with one out. With nowhere to put any other Red Sox hitters, the erratic Helsley faced the struggling Jarren Duran. Before he could throw the first pitch, he was charged with a pitch clock violation but quickly collected himself and struck out Duran on three straight pitches.

After throwing two strikes to slugger Rafael Devers, the Sox’ designated hitter remained composed at the plate, watching four straight balls thrown past him for Helsley’s fourth free pass of the inning and subsequently tied the game, 4-4.

With the crowd at Fenway on their feet, Alex Bregman had an opportunity to collect his first walk-off hit as a member of the Red Sox. Instead, Helsley struck out the third baseman on a nasty 90.3 mph slider.

WILYER ABREU REMAINS SCORCHING HOT

Abreu initially entered the game in the ninth, pinch-hitting for Rob Refsnyder, and worked a four-pitch walk off Helsley.

In the 10th, the Cardinals summoned former Red Sox pitching prospect Ryan Fernandez to face Triston Casas, Story, and Abreu.

With Bregman as the ghost runner at second base, St. Louis opted to intentionally walk Casas to face Story. The move paid off; the shortstop popped out to second base.

Fernandez’ fired a 95.4 mph first-pitch fastball that Abreu belted off the Green Monster for his first career walk-off hit. Abreu is now 12-for-23 to start the season with two doubles, three homers, 10 RBI, eight walks, and a stolen base.

With the win, the Red Sox have won their consecutive series after dropping three of four to the Rangers to begin the new season.

DEVERS WEARS THE WALLY HEAD

Devers belted his first home run of the season in the fifth, hitting it 393 feet into the Green Monster seats. It was one of a handful of at-bats that Devers worked deep into counts, sending a 3-2 93.2 mph fastball out of the park. The homer left his bat at 107.4 mph, and it knocked Cardinals starter Andre Pallante out of the game.

After a disastrous 0-for-19 start to the season, Devers has hits in four consecutive games and is 6-for-15 with a double, a homer, four RBI, and five runs scored over that span.

NEWCOMB PITCHING IN FRONT OF HOME CROWD

Sean Newcomb grew up a Red Sox fan and had never been to a home opener at Fenway Park. On Sunday afternoon, pitching in front of friends and family, he was the Game 1 starter.

“I’ve had Opening Day a handful of times (with the Braves), but coming in here, seeing all the Boston gear and the Boston logos, is pretty sweet,” Newcomb said before his start.

The Sox signed Newcomb to a minor league deal in the offseason, and he pitched to a 0.63 ERA to help secure a spot on the Opening Day roster.

“Coming into camp being non-roster, I kind of had to grind to get here,” he said. “I kind of had a feeling, the way my spring was going and the way things were lined up, but it’s just kind of surreal."

Nerves likely played a part in Newcomb’s outing, allowing a baserunner in every single inning, but he was able to limit the damage, holding the Cardinals to a 1-for-6 clip with runners in scoring position and stranding seven runners on base.

Newcomb went 4 2/3 innings, giving up one run off six hits with three walks, one hit batter, and five strikeouts. His appearance was his longest outing since Aug. 5, 2020, when he was with the Braves; he also pitched 4 2/3 innings when he faced off against the Blue Jays.

The southpaw has allowed four runs on five hits in the first inning during his two starts but has only given up one run over his next 7 2/3 frames.

THE BULLPEN

Aroldis Chapman worked a scoreless 10th, stranding two runners, including the automatic runner at second base. He struck out two, swinging while walking one and forcing a fly out to the left.

Chapman struck out Jordan Walker and then stared down home plate to end the frame. The flame-throwing closer showed off one of the reasons why the Sox signed him in the offseason. High velocity and swing-and-miss stuff will play at the backend of the Red Sox bullpen. 

"When you can get swing and misses in the ninth or extra innings, advantage to you," said Cora post-game. 

Garrett Whitlock experienced some control issues, causing him to give up two runs in the eighth inning.

He walked Victor Scott II with one out and hit the next hitter, Masyn Winn, with a 2-2 94.7 mph sinker. Whitlock then gave up a two-out, two-run double to Pedro Pagés, who put the Cardinals on top, 4-2.

WONG SNAPS HITLESS STREAK

Wong snapped an 0-for-20 at the plate with a single in the seventh and then was picked off at first base for the third out of the inning.

His offensive struggles are starting to come into focus and could open the door for backup catcher Carlos Narváez to see more playing time.

“He will play, probably twice a week,” said Cora before Game 1 here at Fenway Park. “If he can keep producing, probably more. The at-bats are really good; I like the fact he can control the strike zone, he hits the ball forward, and he puts the ball in play. He uses the whole field.

“Obviously adjusting to a pitching staff, adjusting to the big leagues, he got a taste last year, but now it’s different. It’s part of the challenge, but I think we have a great group as far as game planning and the catching department; he’s going to be ok.”

When asked if he was as advertised defensively, Cora said, “Yes.”

DOBBINS GETS GAME 2

The Red Sox will look for the day/night doubleheader sweep of the Cardinals in front of a national audience on ESPN. 

Boston will turn to pitching prospect Hunter Dobbins to pitch Game 2.

“Looking forward to seeing what I can get up to with the Fenway crowd behind me,” Dobbins said Sunday.

Dobbins found out he was going to Boston just before the WooSox game in Jacksonville on Saturday night. As he was about to walk out to the field for the national anthem, WooSox manager Chad Tracy told the righty they needed to talk. 

“Tracy just kind of grabbed me, pulled me into an office. He goes, ‘I wish I could do something a little bigger for you but we’ve gotta get you on a plane and get you to Boston,‘” Dobbins said Sunday morning in the Red Sox clubhouse.