In search of an ace, the Red Sox invested heavily in David Price this winter. In an Opening Day outing opposite Indians righty Corey Kluber on Tuesday, Price once again showed his worth in guiding Boston to a 6-2 victory over the Tribe.
David Ortiz also began his farewell tour by launching the 504th home run of his career.
“It’s the beginning of the season,” said Ortiz. “When the light goes on, Papi goes on.”
Backed by a strong day by outfielder Mookie Betts, who belted a home run to kick off his encore to last year’s breakout campaign, Price piled up 10 strikeouts en route to his first win of the season. Pitching in extremely cold temperatures, the Boston lefty limited Cleveland to two runs on five hits in a 103-pitch performance.
“It was a good win,” said Price. “We threw the ball well at times. We had some good defensive plays and big hits. That’s what you have to do. The guys came in after me and threw the ball extremely well. That was all part of it.”
Kluber — making his second straight Opening Day start for the Indians — struck out five and walked two in 5 1/3 innings, in which he allowed four runs on nine hits. Betts delivered a two-run shot off the former American League Cy Young Award winner in the third inning, and Brock Holt contributed an RBI single off Kluber in the sixth.
“[Kluber] came out and threw a bunch of strikes early,” Indians manager Terry Francona said. “And I thought they did a pretty good job of taking what he gave them. They hit the ball the other way, they bunched some hits together. He kept us right in the game and let us have a chance to come back.”
Ortiz’s blast came in the ninth inning, when Indians righty Trevor Bauer made his season debut out of the bullpen. Bauer, who was bumped out of the rotation for the start of this year, issued a leadoff walk and later surrendered a two-run home run to Big Papi to help Boston to the win column.
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