Benintendi, Red Sox Open up with a win at Fenway Park

[Box Score]

[Joy of Sox]

Andrew Benintendi had the big swing that provided the Red Sox with an Opening Day win at beautiful Fenway Park. It was a three-run home run off Gerrit Cole in the fifth inning to stretch the Red Sox lead to 5-0. The Red Sox scored all five of their runs on the day in that bottom of the fifth frame, and hung on to win with a 5-3 final; Craig Kimbrel working a little bit of a shaky ninth for the save.

Mookie Betts got a knock and walked (also lined out). Xander Bogaerts had two steals. Everyone in the lineup aside from Mitch Moreland had a hit, and Rick Porcello was very solid earning the win and quality start.

Sweet Caroline was played – and for a day at Fenway all was as it should be on a nice April afternoon.