The Boston Red Sox opened up the 2009 season on a positive note as they beat the Tampa Bay Rays 5-3 in front of the 469th consecutive sellout at Fenway Park.
Josh Beckett was outstanding in his first start of the year and definitely looked in mid-season form finishing with 10 strikeouts while allowing just 1 run. He had an overpowering fastball and a nasty curveball. He was definitely the Beckett of 2007 and not the one we saw in 2008.
“It was good, it was big,” said Beckett of his outing. “(Pedroia)got me on the board first thing. I had a lot of adrenaline. If anything, it let me calm down a little bit with the home run. You go out there and don’t really feel like you have to be that perfect in the second. It was good.”
It was also nice to see Jason Varitek get off to a good start with the home run from the left side of the plate. We all know Varitek struggled last year and a hot start to the season for him will be largely beneficial to the Red Sox in the long run.
Because the UConn women won the NCAA title last night, there was a plethora of posts and the video ones from yesterday for the Red Sox got a push down so I am including them at the top of the daily links.
Video: Meet The 2009 Boston Red Sox [SOX & Dawgs]
Video: Ted Kennedy/Jim Rice Ceremonial First Pitch [SOX & Dawgs]
Open for business [Boston Globe]
Beckett Sharp In Opener [Hartford Courant]
Josh Beckett and Dustin Pedroia have Sox thinking big after 5-3 win vs. Rays [Boston Herald]
Beckett was ‘that good’ [Full Count]
Red Sox get solid pitching and timely hitting in win over Rays [Providence Journal]
Day late, a perfect way to start [Boston Globe]
Varitek Homers In Red Sox Win [Hartford Courant]
A sizzling start [Boston Herald]
Jason Varitek: the postscript [Full Count]
Opening Day is exciting for Boston’s first-timers [Providence Journal]
Small wonder who got things started [Boston Globe]
The Opening Day scene at Fenway [Extra Bases]
Mike Lowell’s hip to an opportunity [Boston Herald]
For starters, Pedroia homers in his first at-bat [Providence Journal]
Varitek speaks softly, swings a big stick [Boston Globe]
Jonathan Papelbon seconds emotion [Boston Herald]
Varitek opens his season with a bang [Providence Journal]
Beckett comeback gets off to a great start [Boston Globe]
Bat does Jason Varitek’s talking [Boston Herald]
Dominant Beckett takes over as ace of staff [Providence Journal]
Again, no walk in the park [Boston Globe]
Dustin’s bustin’ out Day 1 [Boston Herald]
‘It’s a big deal to play for the Red Sox,’ Baldelli says [Providence Journal]
Red Sox lineup in working order [Boston Herald]
Sox pitchers just keep on comin’ [Tony Mazz]
For more slices of Boston Red Sox goodness, head over to the Boston Globe, Boston Herald, Hartford Courant and Providence Journal websites.
And if you must see what the enemy papers are saying you can check out the Tampa Tribune and St. Petersburg Times websites.
