BOSTON -- First impressions from the Red Sox' 11-7 win over the Giants:
1) Angry Hanley is a dangerous Hanley
The Red Sox' first baseman was already having a terrific night with several stellar plays at first base, along with two two-run homers as the Red Sox raced out to an early lead.
But when Ramirez was plunked in the fourth inning by San Francisco reliever Albert Suarez -- apparently in retribution for his hitting exploits -- he could be seen mounting to the San Francisco reliever, "I'll get you back.''
Sure enough, two innings later, Ramirez drilled the first from Suarez into the Monster Seats for his third homer of the night - the first three-homer game of his career.
It's clear from the beginning of the season that Ramirez was highly motivated to have a comeback year, and though he hasn't hit for the power the Red Sox expected, he's been a productive player and a pleasant surprise at first base.
Boston Red Sox
Wednesday night was a reminder -- within a game -- what a motivated and angry Ramirez is capable of.
2) This was a debut Drew Pomeranz would like to forget
In his first start for the Red Sox, Pomeranz was fine -- for the first three innings. He allowed two hits and struck out four.
Even better, Pomeranz was getting the kind of support he seldom got in San Diego with eight runs scored.
But trouble started when Pomeranz issued a leadoff walk in the top of the fourth. Then came the hits - single, homer, single, homer, single, single.
Seven men came to the plate and not one was retired and Pomeranz got the hook in an inauspicious debut.
It seemed as if, the second time through the order, the Giants laid off his cutter and curveball and waited to do damage to the fastball.
The Giants were familiar with Pomeranz, having seen him three starts earlier this season. And maybe Pomeranz just had some first-start jitters.
But he had best be a lot better the next time.
3) Matt Barnes may have turned in the most important relief appearance of his career
After Pomeranz got chased, John Farrell went through three relievers pretty quickly, with Robbie Ross Jr., Heath Hembree and Tommy Layne giving him just two-plus innings.
Enter Barnes, who provided three scoreless innings to bridge the game from the middle innings until Brad Ziegler in the ninth.
Barnes threw strikes, attacked hitters and returned the game to some normalcy while the Red Sox got things stabilized.