BOSTON - First Impressions from the Red Sox' 4-2 win over Toronto:
David Price shook off a rough start and settled in to pitch his best game yet.
When David Price allowed a triple to Josh Donaldson and a double to Jose Bautista (he was thrown out trying to turn it into a triple), there was a sense that perhaps the Jays powerful offense would get to Price in this one.
Nope.
Price allowed just four hits and one run the rest of the way, finishing with seven innings of two-run ball, striking out nine and not walking a batter.
It's the type of performance the Red Sox should come to expect from Price on the mound. If they can score - and they did score four runs in the third inning - they'll be in great position to win with Price on the mound. WEEI's Rob Bradford had the stat of the day: Price is 84-5 for his career when getting run support of four or more.
Boston Red Sox
That's what you call a stopper.
Xander Bogaerts' first home run of the season is a sign of things to come
Talk to any scout around the majors and they'll say that power is probably the only thing lacking in Xander Bogaerts' game. They'll also tell you that it's often times the last thing to come around for some players.
Well, Bogaerts hit his first homer of the season on Saturday, a three-run laser into the Monster seats.
The home run came in Bogaerts' 10th game of the season, which is six games sooner than last season's first home run.
He only hit seven home runs last season. It's easy to think he could double that number this season, and maybe even inch up closer to 20 home runs.
Hanley Ramirez for Gold Glove?
OK, we won't get ahead of ourselves here, but it's been no secret that Ramirez has impressed so far at first base this season.
Will he inevitably make an error or have a mental lapse at some point? Sure. But he has been a pleasant surprise at the position and Saturday was no exception. In the eighth inning with one on, the Sox went to turn a double-play. They got the out at second, but Pedroia's throw was a little off. Ramirez reached low and to his left and kept the foot on the bag just long enough to get the out.
That was followed by a little fist pump, and you can tell he's enjoying first base.
In the same inning, Ramirez called off the entire infield and caught a popup just in front of the pitcher's mound.
Mookie Betts' 20-game home streak of reaching base came to an end on Saturday as he went 0-for-4, and the leadoff hitter's batting average fell to .239, the lowest on the team for an everyday player.
Of course it's too soon to panic over Betts' struggles at the plate to begin the season, but it is something to at least monitor for now.
No, Craig Kimbrel's relief appearance at Fenway Park's Opening Day can't just be eliminated from the stat sheets, but the closer Boston traded for during the offseason looks much more in line with what they thought they were getting since that game.
Kimbrel came in for the 9th in a 4-2 game and shut the door on the meaty part of the Jays lineup, striking out Jose Bautista, Edwin Encarnacion, and Troy Tulowitzki.
The only runs he's allowed this season came in that one inning on Monday. The other five appearances? Just one hit and two walks combined. Oh, and 10 strikeouts.
He earned his fourth save of the season on Saturday.