NKOTR
There are some fresh faces on the roster. How better to acquaint oneself with the scrutiny of the Boston sports media than a season opener against the New York Yankees? While the Bronx’s lineup resembled the RailRiders, the Red Sox batters squared off against the formidable CC Sabathia.
Shane Victorino was born and raised on the same island I grew up on. Maui no ka ’oi! (Maui is da bes!) He went 2-for-6 and added to Jose Iglesias’s two RBIs with two of his own in the second inning. I do wonder if he will get on base consistently enough to stay in the two-hole, but he managed hits off both a lefty and a righty.
Mike Napoli had a rough go of it with an 0-for-5 line and two strikeouts. As such he is the Joey Fatone of the ensemble. Wrong “band”? Oh well, they all blend together.
Jonny Gomes notched two hits from the seven-hole. It is less than ideal to have a designated hitter so far down the lineup, but until David Ortiz mends Gomes will have to shoulder the load. I have to think Kevin Youkilis looked over at Gomes’s beard with nostalgic yearning.
Last but not least Jackie Bradley, Jr. made his major league debut. He didn’t get a hit but tallied three base on balls. He impressively worked a walk off Sabathia in the second inning after falling behind 0-2. On the field he put away Lyle Overbay’s soaring fly ball, battling wind, sun, and Yankee fans’ taunts.
They’re back. Jon Lester’s back. I’m back.
| Game 1: April 1, 2013 | ||
 Boston Red Sox1-0 |
8 |
W: Jon Lester (1-0) H: Koji Uehara (1), Andrew Miller (1), Andrew Bailey (1), Junichi Tazawa (1) |
| 2B: Jarrod Saltalamacchia (1) 3B: Jacoby Ellsbury (1) | ||
| New York Yankees 0-1 |
2 |
L: CC Sabathia (0-1) |
| 2B: Kevin Youkilis (1) | ||
