The Boston Red Sox opened their 2009 season with a 5-3 victory over the defending AL Champion Tampa Bay Rays and a strong all-around team performance.
Josh Beckett (1-0) led the way, allowing one run in seven innings while striking out 10, scattering two hits and three walks on 93 pitches. The lone Tampa Bay run Beckett allowed came on a Carl Crawford sacrifice fly.
Dustin Pedroia opened the scoring with his first home run of the season. off of James Shields in the first inning. Jason Varitek also homered in the sixth.
Hideki Okajima allowed two runs in the eighth before Justin Masterson and Jonathan Papelbon combined for 1 2/3 scoreless innings of relief. Papelbon picked up his first save of the season, striking out two.
Evan Longoria, Carlos Pena and Pat Burrell, the Rays' three-through-five hitters, combined to hit 1-12 with 10 runners left on base. Pena struck out four times.
James Shields (0-1) allowed three of his five runs in the third inning. He retired five of his next six batters before exiting in the sixth following Varitek's home run.
One bright spot in the Rays lineup was Akinori Iwamura, who reached base safely three times and scored on Crawford's sacrifice.
Tomorrow, Jon Lester will oppose Scott Kazmir in the second of the three-game series. Daisuke Matsuzaka will oppose Matt Garza in the series finale.
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