It looks like I didn’t have anything to worry about yesterday after all.
Nearly 15 years after Aaron Boone broke Boston’s collective heart, the Red Sox began to exact what will hopefully be a season-long revenge. And quite frankly, it was delicious.
While the Red Sox are 5-0 in 1-run games this season, this was a whole other ballgame, literally, as the Red Sox absolutely decimated the Yankees.
Final score: 14-1.
Yes, you read that correctly. While both teams had numerous hits, the Red Sox made good use of their 11 hits, scoring 14 runs. Their rivals needed 10 hits just to get their first and only run on the board, a 5th-inning home run by Aaron Judge.
Hanley Ramirez and Andrew Benintendi led the charge early on. Hanley’s RBI single got the Sox on the board in the 1st, and they just couldn’t seem to stop scoring.
Things got especially epic in the 6th, when the Red Sox scored a preposterous 9 runs, courtesy of JD Martinez, Rafael Devers, and a grand slam by Mookie Betts.
On the Bronx side, the “Baby Bombers” had what can only be described as a pathetic showing. Yes, Aaron Judge homered off Chris Sale, but it was the only run they scored the entire game. To the surprise of few and the delight of all of Red Sox Nation, Giancarlo Stanton continued to not be the player he was last year, striking out twice against Sale. Overall, the Yankees lineup went 1-for-20 with men on base, 1-for-14 against Chris Sale.
Starter Severino was the anti-Sale, allowing as many hits (6) in two innings as he did in his first 13 (2 starts) and twice as many runs (4). But it was relievers Kahnle and Shreve who really turned this into an embarrassment when they allowed a combined 9 runs in the 6th inning.
At the helm, Aaron Boone looked like the forlorn captain of a directionless ship. Not the managerial debut he’d hoped for in the ultimate baseball rivalry, but what did you expect? The man has zero managing or coaching experience, and the only thing he’s really remembered for is that one home run. Next to an exciting Red Sox team and their chill new manager, Boone and his Bombers looked especially lifeless.
The only word I can think of to describe this Red Sox team so far? Ridiculous. In nine games, they’ve committed 0 errors, and they’re the only team who can say still that; every single one of their fellow MLB teams has at least one. In last night’s game, the team that finished last in home runs in 2017 had runs to spare. Last season, they didn’t have a grand slam among them; this season, they’ve already had two in their first ten games.
It’s like the Red Sox collectively experienced some kind of David Ortiz-absence-induced Sophomore Slump last year, and now they’re back. Not only are they back, but they’re better. They’re vibrant in a way I haven’t seen in a long time.
Half of me wants to jump on a couch Tom Cruise-style and scream with joy. I’m seeing visions of a World Series win. But the other half of me is hesitant, scared to jinx or ruin the good thing we’ve got going. More than that, I’m realistic; I know how quickly the tides change in baseball. A winning Red Sox team makes me happier than almost anything in existence. I don’t want it to go away.
But I’m going to allow myself to feel happy and excited. After all, baseball is about the joy of the individual game as much as it is about the postseason. Small victories are victories nonetheless.
It’s April. It’s barely been two weeks. It’s been snowing in Boston. All true statements, but the potential is here. The vibe is good. The Force is (Boston) strong.
I believe.
Photo: Billie Weiss/Red Sox
