The runs keep on coming for the Red Sox.
Boston found themselves on the winning end of another offensive slugfest on Sunday, closing out their series with the Orioles with a 9-5 victory.
The win clinches the Sox a series win to start the year against their division foe. The series featured no shortage of hitting from either side. The Red Sox scored 27 runs through 3 contests, but also gave up 22 to the Orioles.
This is the first time the Red Sox have scored 9+ runs in each of their first 3 games of a season.
— J.P. Long (@SoxNotes) April 2, 2023
Manager Alex Cora was happy with his team’s offensive performance in multiple facets on Sunday despite the less than ideal weather conditions for hitting.
“Today wasn’t the best day for exit velocity, but we put the play in play when it mattered,” Cora told reporters via NESN.com . “And we ran the bases real well today, some good reads on liners.
Adam Duvall stayed hot on Sunday, going 3-5, including a 2-RBI single in the fifth inning to give Boston a 6-3 lead. An offseason addition, Duvall’s Red Sox career has gotten off to a blazing start, hitting .571 to start the year.
Adam Duvall just can't stop hitting. pic.twitter.com/p0Pej1cp0b
— Red Sox (@RedSox) April 2, 2023
Duvall wasn’t the only new starter for the Red Sox to create some positive early-season momentum on Sunday. Triston Casas got his first career hit on an RBI single in the seventh inning.
Tanner Houk got his first start of the year on the bump for the Sox, giving up 3 earned runs through 5 innings of work, striking out 5. He was credited with the win.
Houck was not completely satisfied with his performance today, but feels that he is heading in the right direction after back surgery cut his 2022 season short.
“I felt really good with all of my pitches- felt good with my slider, two-seam, threw a lot of cutters” said Houck. “I’m always confident. . . it comes from doing the monotonous stuff over and over, talking with Dave Busch, talking with Kevin Walker. Just doing what you can each and every day.
Next up, the Red Sox kick off a three-game series with the Pirates at home on Monday. Kutter Crawford is scheduled to get the start for Boston in game 1.
