Tyler O’Neill made history on opening day by hitting a home run in his fifth consecutive season opener, setting a major league record. The Boston Red Sox secured a 6-4 victory over the Seattle Mariners, with O'Neill's eighth-inning homer off Cody Bolton proving to be the game-winning hit. O'Neill, who was previously with the St. Louis Cardinals, was traded from the Mariners in 2017 and had a standout performance in front of his family and friends from British Columbia.
Rafael Devers also contributed to Boston's win with a home run and a double off Seattle's ace Luis Castillo. Manager Alex Cora celebrated his first opening day win with the Red Sox, praising Devers for his impressive hitting performance. Boston's pitcher Brayan Bello delivered a solid five-inning outing, limiting Seattle's offense to Mitch Haniger's two-run homer.
Seattle made a late push with Dylan Moore's pinch-hit two-run homer in the seventh inning, but fell short of a comeback. Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver, two of Seattle's offseason acquisitions, faced challenges adjusting to their new home ballpark, experiencing near misses on potential home runs.
Both teams dealt with injuries as the Red Sox placed several players on the injured list, including Liam Hendriks recovering from Tommy John surgery. The Mariners also had players sidelined, with Sam Haggerty on the 10-day injured list and multiple pitchers dealing with various injuries.
Looking ahead, the Red Sox will send Nick Pivetta to the mound in the next game, while the Mariners will counter with George Kirby as they aim to bounce back from their opening day defeat.
Overall, the opening day matchup showcased a mix of standout performances, historic achievements, and early-season challenges for both teams as they embark on the long MLB season.
