The Wednesday, April 11, 2018

* The Boston Globe

Red Sox keep ‘riding the wave’ in ninth straight victory

Peter Abraham

The Red Sox had the best record in spring training, winning 14 of their last 15 games. But it didn’t matter because it was spring training.

Then they got off to the best start in team history, winning eight of their first nine games. But it didn’t matter because it came against the penny-pinching Tampa Bay Rays and .

Now does it matter? A 14-1 victory against the Yankees on Tuesday night certainly suggests there is more going on at Fenway Park than simply fortuitous scheduling.

Mookie Betts had four hits, including a grand slam, as the Sox rolled to their ninth consecutive victory before a crowd of 32,357 at Fenway Park.

At 9-1, the Sox have the best record in the under new Alex Cora.

The first three hitters in the order — Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Hanley Ramirez — were 8 of 9 with eight runs scored, nine RBIs, five extra-base hits, and four walks.

“It’s definitely super fun to be involved in any win. I just do what I can,” said Betts, who is hitting .432 with a 1.263 OPS.

Betts scored five runs, a career high. He is only the seventh player in history to score five or more runs against the Yankees, the first since Luis Castillo of the Mets in 2008.

The 14 runs were the most for the Sox against the Yankees since a 14-1 victory on Aug. 22, 2009. The Sox have scored 22 runs in their the last two games.

Chris Sale pitched six strong innings for his first win of the season. He was going to come out for one more inning but there wasn’t much point with the Sox up by 13 runs.

For Sale, it goes back to spring training. Record aside, the Sox played well under Cora and they were able to carry that into the season.

“We’re just riding the wave — showing up, having fun, and winning games,” said Sale. “I think [Cora] has a lot to do with that. You look at him in the dugout and he’s just kind of looking around and spitting seeds. He has a very calm demeanor and that helps us not panic, too.”

Cora has been pleased with the energy of his players for several weeks now. That good pitching and defense has fueled this initial burst of success is another positive sign.

But his postgame expression was one of a man waiting at a traffic light.

“It’s still early in the season. It’s only a good start,” Cora said. “We know there’s a lot of work to be done.”

The Red Sox knocked Yankees starter Luis Severino out of the game after five innings and 94 pitches. He was fortunate to get that far given the Sox left six runners on base when he was in the game.

Betts led off the first inning with a double to left-center. Benintendi walked before Ramirez singled to center to drive in a .

When Rafael Devers walked with one out, the Sox had the bases loaded. But Eduardo Nunez popped up and Jackie Bradley Jr. struck out.

But Severino did not take advantage of the reprieve. Christian Vazquez singled to lead off the second inning. Betts also singled before Benintendi lined a triple into the right field corner.

Betts scored when Ramirez dropped a single into left field.

“We came out ready to play, got up early, and kept it on them,” Benintendi said.

The top of the order created another run in the fourth inning. Betts drew a walk, went to third on Benintendi’s double, and scored on Ramirez’s sacrifice fly to right field.

Ramirez has 11 RBIs in nine games. It took him 20 games to get to 11 RBIs last season.

The Yankees went to their bullpen in the sixth inning and the Sox scored nine runs as 12 batters came to the plate.

J.D. Martinez just missed a grand slam, his shot to center field off Tommy Kahnle resulting in a two-run double. Devers followed with a sacrifice fly.

With two outs, an by Miguel Andujar allowed a run to score. Chasen Shreve then walked Brock Holt to force in a run. Betts followed with a line-drive grand slam into the Monster Seats and the Sox had a 14-1 lead. It was his second of the season.

In the last seven games, Betts is 14 of 26 with six extra-base hits, 13 runs, and six RBIs.

“His ability to make contact is unreal,” Cora said.

Sale allowed eight hits and one run, that coming on a home run deep into the center field bleachers by Aaron Judge in the fifth inning. It was measured at 444 feet.

Judge was 0 for 12 with 10 against Sale last season, his first time facing the lefthander. He was 3 for 3 on Tuesday.

Sale has a 1.06 ERA through three starts and has struck out 23 in 17 innings.

“Of his three starts that was his best one and he’s getting better,” Cora said.

Said Sale: “When you go out there and you’re winning you just have confidence and you’re more relaxed. You’re not pressing to get results, it just happens.”

David Price starts the second game of the series on Wednesday. He will face Masahiro Tanaka.

The 5-6 Yankees have lost four of their last five games.

Mookie Betts took Alex Cora’s advice, and look what happened

Nick Cafardo

You can’t blame first-year Red Sox manager Alex Cora, after being around George Springer for all of 2017 with the , for thinking that maybe Mookie Betts could be like the MVP.

Cora envisioned a power-hitting leadoff man like Springer. He thought Betts could get there if he would only be more aggressive rather than trying to grind out at-bats and taking walks. And so Betts practiced what Cora preached to him in spring training — change his mind-set. It took him a while to get used to the new way, but he started to feel more and more comfortable.

And after a 4-for-4 night that included a grand slam, two doubles, and five runs scored in the Red Sox’ 14- 1 shellacking of the Yankees Tuesday at Fenway Park, Cora felt his message and vision for Betts had gotten through to the 2016 AL MVP runner-up.

“First of all he’s going to make contact, but now he understands that he can do damage in the strike zone and that he doesn’t have to just put the ball in play and get singles,” Cora said. “I’m not saying that was the case but I told him there’s nothing wrong with swinging and missing at pitches. It doesn’t matter. Go for it. There was a 2-0 count he took a big hack and he swung and missed and it was just a strike. He was taking too many pitches right down the middle and he can do damage with those.”

Cora took mental notes as he observed Betts from the opposing dugout last season.

“From personal experience from last year, he’ll take the first-pitch strike and he’ll beat you in the third at- bat,” Cora said. “What I learned from him last year and the way other teams see him, you start thinking I can change my approach. His ability to make contact is unreal and he can do damage when he makes contact. I bring up George [Springer] a lot because that’s what he did with Houston last year and that’s what I envision with Mookie. He can do the same thing.”

Betts said Cora talked to him from the moment he took the job with the Red Sox and started calling players to share observations. From his view and studying video of every hitter, Cora formulated a game plan for each player, a checklist of things he wanted to stress in one-on-one conversations.

“Right after he got hired he called and he just wanted everyone to pay attention to detail,” Betts said. “He showed me the numbers and scouting reports that indicated to me that I should swing more.”

Betts relished that he set the tone Tuesday night with his leadoff double. He complimented teammates for driving him in and giving Chris Sale an early lead. In the sixth he blasted his grand slam, capping a nine- run outburst in which 12 batters came to the plate.

It was the first grand slam by a Sox hitter against the Yankees since Jarrod Saltalamacchia connected on Sept. 13, 2013, at Fenway. Betts reached base a career-high five times and ended the night hitting .432. He became the first Sox player in the last 100 years with five runs scored and a grand slam in the same game.

Betts has a major league-leading 135 doubles since 2015, including 81 at Fenway.

“Just trying to do my job and score some runs,” Betts said. “The guys hitting behind me did a great job. I just got some good pitches to and put some good swings together today.”

Betts doesn’t think the adjustment has been anything that dramatic. “It’s easy really,” he said, “just swing more.”

The approach has been re-emphasized by new hitting Tim Hyers, who worked with Betts in the minor leagues. With sidelined for at least two weeks because of an ankle injury, the Red Sox will be leaning on Betts, Andrew Benintendi, J.D. Martinez, and Hanley Ramirez for more.

Betts set the table and cleared it on Tuesday.

And that’s exactly what Cora wants from his 25-year-old right fielder.

Through the first 10 games of the 2018 season, Betts has looked more like the guy who finished runner-up to Mike Trout as the 2016 AL MVP. Some observers believed Betts spent too much time trying to get on base in 2017 — he drew 77 walks compared with 49 in 2016.

Cora, using Springer as a comparable player, wants Betts to let it rip.

He believes Betts can be one of the most dynamic players in the game from the leadoff spot.

Red Sox manager Alex Cora admits mistake from Sunday’s game

Peter Abraham

Something refreshing happened on Tuesday afternoon. The manager of a prominent team sat at table in front of a room packed with journalists and readily admitted he made a mistake.

The Red Sox scored six runs in the bottom of the eighth inning on Sunday to take an 8-7 lead against the Tampa Bay Rays. But when the team went out to play defense for the top of the ninth, Cora forget something.

J.D. Martinez stayed in left field with Andrew Benintendi in center. Cora would have preferred to bring Jackie Bradley Jr. off the bench to play center and shift Benintendi to left. That would have been a stronger defensive alignment, particularly in a one-run game.

That Martinez had misplayed several balls during the game made it even more pressing.

“I’m going to be honest with you,” Cora said on Tuesday. “We scored six runs and we were so excited about it, and the manager missed that one.”

The interview room at Fenway Park went quiet for a second. Most managers would have talked around the mistake or claimed there was no reason for a change.

Beyond that, it didn’t matter. The Rays didn’t get the ball out of the infield against Craig Kimbrel in the ninth inning and the Sox held on.

But Cora copped to his mistake.

“Because I did. Why lie, you know?” he said. “It happens. Everybody saw it. I think I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent, and responsible. So, if I’m asking them to be that way, well, I’d better be that way. Because if I say something else, they know I’m not telling the truth.”

Admitting mistakes — whether it was rushing players back from injuries, being too aggressive on the bases or overworking pitchers — was not something the Red Sox did much of last season.

That Cora did acknowledge his error — and as an example to his players — was a sign of how much has changed in a short period of time.

The Red Sox finally faced a real contender, and made quite a statement

Dan Shaughnessy

It’s early in the season, but the Red Sox made a loud statement Tuesday night, embarrassing the Yankees, 14-1. It was a game Geno Auriemma would have loved.

Coming into the evening, it was easy to mock the Sox’ 8-1 record at the expense of the built-to-lose Rays and Marlins (Rob Manfred should investigate those tanking fish), but Game 10 was different. The Sox were playing a legitimate big league contender, a traditional nemesis, and a team that exceeded Boston’s success in the Sox’ division-winning season of 2017.

No problem. Everything was awesome for Red Sox Nation as Mookie Betts (four hits, grand slam, five runs scored) did his best Willie Mays impersonation and the Sox humiliated the vaunted on national television at frosty Fenway. Let the record show that the first “Yankees Suck” chants of this Sox season bounded off Fenway’s outfield walls at 9:18 p.m. after a booming two-run double by the overdue J.D. Martinez put the Sox ahead, 7-1, in the sixth.

“We’re been playing good baseball for a while,’’ deadpanned Sox skipper Alex Cora.

This was a thorough beatdown of the team that most experts picked to win the . Betts, Andrew Benintendi, and Hanley Ramirez were a wrecking crew at the top of the Sox batting order, and Chris Sale (six innings, one run) knew what to do with a four-run lead in the first two innings as the Sox pantsed the Steinbrenner Athletic Club.

Game 2 of the series is Wednesday night with the Sox featuring David Price (who has not given up a run since July) vs. Masahiro Tanaka. The Red Sox have won nine straight games and lead the Yankees by 4½ in the division.

Fenway was frothing with subplots leading into the first Red Sox-Yankees game of 2018. The teams finished 1-2 in the AL East last year, with the Yankees taking the season series, 11-8, and outscoring the Sox, 82-59. finished in second place but lasted longer in October, taking the eventual world champion Houston Astros to seven games in the American League Championship Series.

This is the 40th anniversary of the epic 1978 Red Sox-Yankees playoff race and a crew has been in Braintree this week interviewing many of the cast members from that classic for an ESPN “30 for 30” scheduled to run around the 40th birthday of the Bucky Dent game from Oct. 2, 1978.

There’s been considerable conflict between the franchises since that fateful day and the themes of 2018 serve to amplify and underscore the hard feelings and history of the last four decades.

Tuesday’s showdown/blowout was the first meeting between the teams since cheating charges flew back and forth between Boston and New York late last summer. It’s pretty apparent that GMs and are not fans of one another. It’s not quite the John Henry-Larry Lucchino/ feud of 2003-04, but it’s pretty darn good.

Both teams hired neophyte managers last autumn, making Cora and the hardball progeny of and .

Cora and Boone both participated in the rivalry as players not long ago. Cora was part of the 2007 Red Sox championship team and Boone — you may remember — hit a fairly significant home run off Tim Wakefield (Wake was at Fenway for NESN Tuesday) to send the Yankees to the 2003 World Series.

“The amount of people that bring it up to you is a tribute to how big this rivalry is,’’ said the rookie Yankees manager. “For the most part it’s good-natured. But now that I’ve got the [Yankees] uniform on, maybe that changes.’’

Cora’s contributions to the Sox vs. the Yankees were not quite as memorable to everyone.

“I once hit a bloop single off Mariano [Rivera],’’ recalled the Sox’ first-year skipper. “I had a game when I went 2 for 4 with three RBIs, a home run and a triple. I almost had more. I had a bet with Tito [Francona] and just missed out on five steaks.’’

Struggling DH sluggers Martinez and are also part of the renewed rivalry. Martinez (a $110 million free agent), the only significant addition made by the Sox over the winter, came into the night hitting .226 with one homer and four RBIs in the first nine games. He’s looked nothing like the 45-homer guy the Sox thought they were getting. His puny .705 OPS and team-leading 11 strikeouts were largely overlooked because of Boston’s 8-1 start, but Sox fans are expecting more.

The Sox fandom got a little something from the new thumper in the sixth Tuesday when Martinez hit a two-run double to center.

“He’s feeling better,’’ said Cora. “It’s just a matter of time when he gets hot.’’

Stanton came into the night under much more pressure than Martinez. The man with the $325 million contract was hitting .167 with three homers and a whopping 20 strikeouts in the Yankees’ first 10 games. He had two — that’s two — five- games in the opening homestand. Think of it this way: In the Yankees’ first 10 games, Stanton struck out seven more times than Joe DiMaggio whiffed in the 1941 season (622 plate appearances, 13 K’s) when Joe D had his 56-game hitting streak and was AL MVP. Stanton was booed out of after his second platinum sombrero Sunday (the late Mike Flanagan said a six-strikeout game was a “Sam Horn” — Big Sam turned the trick in 1991, the first non-pitcher to whiff six times in a big league game). The back page of Tuesday’s New York Daily News screamed, “Curse of the Stantino.”

Sale fanned Stanton on three pitches in the first, and on four pitches in the third. Giancarlo managed a single off Sale in the fifth, then doubled off Brian Johnson in the eighth when it was 14-1.

These are the good old days for the Boston Red Sox. It is only April 11, but they have never looked better. Wednesday night they go for 10 in a row, and the vaunted Yankees seem powerless to stop them.

Xander Bogaerts feeling better after cracking bone in foot

Peter Abraham

When Xander Bogaerts met with reporters on Tuesday, it was notable that he was wearing adidas slides and not a chunky walking boot on his left foot.

The shortstop is feeling much better after cracking the talus bone in his foot in the seventh inning of Sunday’s game against the Rays. Bogaerts is on the disabled list but doesn’t feel it will be a long-term injury.

“It depends on how my body recovers from it or responds to it,” he said. “I think my body normally is really good at that. So we’ll see how long it takes. Whenever I’m ready I’ll come out there and help the team again.”

Bogaerts needed a boot after the game and help getting back to his apartment. But he was walking with minimal discomfort on Tuesday.

“That’s obviously a huge plus,” Bogaerts said.

X-rays did not show the small fracture. It took an MRI to reveal it and the medical staff is hopeful Bogaerts could resume hitting by the end of the week.

Bogaerts is 14 of 38 (.368) with seven doubles, two home runs, nine RBIs, and seven runs. The injury suspends what was a promising start to the season.

“That sucks,” Bogaerts said. “But being part of the team, the way they’re playing right now, I think anyone can come in, fill in, and do the job. It’s a lot of positive energy here and I don’t want this to be a setback for anyone.”

Bogaerts effectively injured himself on what was a strange play.

When Tampa Bay’s Joey Wendle tripled off the wall in left field, Bogaerts caught the ball when J.D. Martinez threw it in. He then flipped it to third base, believing Rafael Devers would be there.

“But the way the throw came in, he went to back me up,” Bogaerts said.

Instead, the ball rolled toward the Tampa Bay dugout. Bogaerts chased the ball down to keep it from going out of play. He slid into the front step of the dugout and seemed fine at first. But after a few cautious steps, he had to be helped off the field.

Bogaerts is still not sure how the injury occurred.

“I think we all assume that it happened probably when I was in their dugout,” he said. “But I really have no idea how it happened.”

Brock Holt started at shortstop against the Yankees on Tuesday. Holt, Eduardo Nunez, and Tzu-Wei Lin will get time at the position until Bogaerts returns.

“They’re going to be fine,” manager Alex Cora said. “They’re going to play good defense and we’ll take that on a daily basis, who’s going to play short . . . We’re not worried about that.”

Lin returns For Lin, who was recalled from Triple A Pawtucket, it was special night. His wife, Kai-Li, was in the stands with their baby daughter, Shin-En.

Kai-Li was in Taiwan last summer when Lin made his major league debut and played 25 games for the Sox.

“This is the first time they will see me at a major league game,” he said.

Lin, 24, played well in spring training and impressed the coaching staff.

“He still needs to understand that there’s other stuff that he can do to be a better offensive player — bunting and hitting the ball the other way. But defensively, he was A-plus,” Cora said. “He was great. At shortstop, his footwork, his tempo, it was fun to watch. The way he went about his business, starting [or] coming late to games, playing second, short, third, in the outfield, that was impressive.”

Good memories Cora hit .282 in 34 games against the Yankees during his time with the Sox. There were several notable games in 2007.

On April 20 of that season, Cora had an RBI single off to cap a five-run eighth inning as the Sox won, 7-6, at Fenway Park.

Nine days later, at old , Cora was 2 for 4 with a triple, a home run, and three RBIs in a game the Sox won, 7-4.

According to Cora, he had a friendly bet with manager Terry Francona that he would drive in five runs that day and just missed a second home run.

“It’s fun. It’s baseball,” said Cora, who also played for the Dodgers against the Giants. “That’s the fun part of sports, rivalries. Playing here, playing at Fenway, is fun. Playing at the old Yankee Stadium this series was awesome.

“I know people tune in, they watch. I’m glad I’m part of it.”

But for a manager, passion has limits. Cora was asked whether he woke up with any different feeling because the Sox were playing the Yankees.

“No,” he said. “Just another series.”

So, it’s just another series?

“Yep,” he said.

Pedroia’s next step Dustin Pedroia will not go with the team on the next road trip. He will instead report to Fort Myers, Fla., next Tuesday to continue his comeback from knee surgery.

“It’s still a work in progress. If you talk to him he’s going to say he’s almost there,” Cora said. “But we’re going to take it easy with him.”

Pedroia is hitting, taking ground balls, and doing more running. He is not ready for games. The Sox don’t want him running the bases in game conditions.

Lefthander Drew Pomeranz will stay on his rehabilitation assignment and start for Double A Portland on Friday against Binghamton at Hadlock Field.

Pomeranz pitched for Triple A Pawtucket on Sunday and walked six in 4⅓ innings.

“His command wasn’t there. Velocity, it was OK. He feels he needs one more to tune in his mechanics to get it there,” Cora said.

With Pomeranz not ready to return, the Sox will need a starter for Saturday’s game against Baltimore. That will be lefthander Brian Johnson or righthander Hector Velazquez.

They each made a start in the first week of the season and have been in the bullpen since.

“We have to make a decision,” Cora said.

Johnson started on April 2 in Miami. He threw 14 pitches in relief on Sunday, and another 37 in relief on Tuesday night.

“Once you build up in spring training, it’s easier to maintain,” Johnson said. “I’m sure either of us could be ready to start.”

In Fort Myers, Tyler Thornburg hit 95 miles per hour with his fastball on Monday. But he still needs work on his secondary pitches. The righthander is returning from thoracic outlet surgery.

Gray in line The Yankees named Sonny Gray to start Thursday. He was 1-2 with a 4.50 ERA against the Sox last season . . . This may come as a shock, but Jacoby Ellsbury has not played for the Yankees this season. He is on the disabled list with an oblique strain and also has developed a hip injury that required a cortisone shot on Monday. It’s uncertain when he will return . . . The NCAA Division 3 national champion Norwich University women’s hockey team was recognized on the field before the game. Sophomore Amanda Conway of Methuen, senior Laurie King, and junior Bryn Labbe threw out first pitches.

Here’s how the Red Sox are planning to replace Xander Bogaerts

Nick Cafardo

Brock Holt got the first turn as the replacement for Xander Bogaerts, but Holt will be part of a three-man rotation, according to Red Sox manager Alex Cora, who said he will base who starts at shortstop on matchups and not necessarily who has the hot hand.

Holt will join Eduardo Nunez and Tzu-Wei Lin in the rotation in Bogaerts’s place. Bogaerts was off to a tremendous start, hitting .368 with two homers, seven doubles, and nine RBIs, before suffering a minor fracture in his left ankle while chasing down an errant throw in Sunday’s 8-7 comeback win over the Rays. The injury does not require surgery, and as Bogaerts acknowledged on Tuesday, it could have been a lot worse.

It wasn’t good timing for the Red Sox, who had seemingly gotten Bogaerts to become the player they always thought he could be — at least through the first nine games of the season. One who could hit with power, one who could hit for average, and one who played decent defense. It’s too bad for Bogaerts, who was never himself in 2017 because of a hand injury. And now with a cracked bone in his ankle, who knows how long it will be before Bogaerts is whole again? The Red Sox see it as a 10- to 14-day injury, but that might be optimistic.

Cora said before Tuesday’s series opener against the Yankees, “Between Nunez, Holt, and Lin we’ll be fine. We’ll have good at-bats. We’re not worried about that. As a group, with the information we’re provided, we’ll put guys in good spots, they will make plays.

“Obviously, Xander is an elite shortstop, I understand that. When he comes back, he comes back. I’m not going to push him to come back sooner rather than later. Hopefully he recovers and comes back sooner rather than later, but we’ve got to move on. We have a good team. When he’s away, we’re going to be comfortable with whomever is playing short.”

The ideal replacement would have been Deven Marrero, but he was traded to Arizona just before the start of the season. Marrero was out of minor league options and there was no room for him, despite the fact he played so well filling in at third base and shortstop last season.

Cora said he will look to Lin to be a defensive replacement at times late in games. And when Lin plays shortstop, you’ll see Nunez or Holt playing second base. All three should get quality playing time. Nunez prefers shortstop or third over second base, but he doesn’t have a lot of range at any of those positions. Holt is a natural second baseman but has played a lot of shortstop.

“I think he can play shortstop defensively for a championship-caliber team,” Cora said of Lin. “At short, third, and second. He’s that good. We had a good one [Marrero] and we did what we did. That happened. But we are very comfortable with [Lin] late in games.”

Lin, 24, made his major league debut in 2017 after having never played above Double A prior to that season. He appeared in 25 games (15 starts) over two stints with Boston, hitting .268 (15 for 56) with a .369 on-base percentage, making six starts at shortstop, six at third base, and three at second base. In two games with Triple A Pawtucket this season — both starts at shortstop — he went 3 for 6 with two walks. Lin signed with the Red Sox as an international free agent in June 2012. He has appeared in 503 minor league games, making 280 starts at shortstop.

Tuesday night marked Holt’s 32nd game as a major league shortstop, and 23rd start. He has played seven positions in the majors, and has been a DH. Holt has always said second base is the position he’s most comfortable at, but “I’ve played shortstop my whole life.”

Nunez has played 270 major league games at shortstop, the position he has played the most in his nine-year career. He was once ’s backup in New York. Nunez has started this year as Dustin Pedroia’s main replacement at second base. He has played five positions in the majors, including left and right field.

Even though Cora has been happy with the Red Sox’ defense — they entered Tuesday as the only major league team to not commit an error — the infield range hasn’t been great. Bogaerts appeared to have improved his defense. Lin may help the defense, but all three will have to prove themselves worthy replacements for Bogaerts.

At this point, it doesn’t appear that president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski is interested in bringing in another shortstop if Bogaerts is out for more than a couple of weeks.

Bogaerts wishes he had taken more time off last season when his hand was bothering him so much, but he wanted to play because manager John Farrell wanted him in there, even at less than 100 percent. Bogaerts promised himself he wouldn’t play that hurt again. It didn’t do him any favors.

“I just want my body to heal up again,” he said. “I mean, I’m not going out there and forcing anything again. I’m going to let it heal and come back when I’m ready.”

Until that time, Holt, Lin, and Nunez have a chance to reinforce their futures with the team. All three are considered utility players. When Pedroia returns — and he’s going back to Fort Myers, Fla., next Tuesday when the Red Sox head to the West Coast, for the final phase of his comeback from restorative knee surgery — Nunez will become a utilityman again, leaving the Sox with three utility guys, which will be two too many with the team also needing to carry Blake Swihart as a utility player.

This is a chance to make that a tough decision for Dombrowski and Cora. At least that’s the hope. For now, it’ll be a lineup missing the team’s best hitter to date. It’s a lineup that will be a lot thinner. A team this deep should be able to absorb a significant loss like that of Bogaerts, even as the schedule gets tougher.

* The Boston Herald

Mookie Betts, Red Sox have a blast in rout of rival Yankees

Jason Mastrodonato

When Mookie Betts blasted one over the Green Monster to put the Red Sox up 14-1 on the in the sixth inning last night, he crossed home plate for the fifth time.

It was the first time in his career he scored five runs, the first time this year he was 4-for-4, and it all began in October, soon after the Red Sox hired Alex Cora as manager.

The first punch of the “Renewed Rivalry” was an uppercut 14-1 victory by Cora’s Red Sox that connected square on the chin of Aaron Boone’s Yankees.

Betts did it all out of the leadoff spot, where Cora had planned on hitting the former MVP runner-up since the moment he began thinking about taking the reins as the team’s new skipper.

“We’ve been talking about this since November,” Cora said. “If you’re facing us, you have to execute from Pitch 1. That’s what I wanted. That’s why it’s the first thing that came to mind, my plan. He’s going to lead off. I saw it first-hand last year. I know it works. He accepted the challenge, and he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Remarkable as it is, the players in the home dugout were almost the same as those who sat on those benches last year. The lineup wasn’t much different. J.D. Martinez played last night. Xander Bogaerts is hurt. Otherwise, same group.

But the Cora-led Red Sox, the ones who bowed out in the first round of the Division Series a year ago, gave no quarter as they steamrolled the Boone-led Yankees, the group that came within a game of the World Series last year and then added Giancarlo Stanton to the lineup.

Betts got the Sox going from the first inning, when he started with a double and scored on a hit from Hanley Ramirez.

Betts saw 10 strikes in his five times to the plate. He swung at seven. Four went for hits, including two doubles and a homer.

The aggression is what Cora has preached to Betts since October.

“I think it was just right after he got hired,” Betts said. “I know he made his calls and called everybody, that was one of the first things he said to me. He must really pay attention to detail if it was one of the first things he said.

“He showed me numbers of my swing percentages. It’s not necessarily scouting reports. It’s just swing more often.”

The Yankees’ swings were less productive.

Stanton struck out his first two times to bat on just seven pitches, though he finished 2-for-4. His teammates played sloppy defense, with two registered errors, and on the mound they issued a remarkable seven free passes.

It was ace vs. ace, Chris Sale vs. Luis Severino, Cy Young Award runner-up vs. the third-place finisher.

Sale came out slinging mid-90s heaters without fear, throwing 36 of his first 46 pitches for strikes through the first three innings.

Severino had nothing working. The first three batters he faced — Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Ramirez — all reached base and the Sox were up 1-0 in a heartbeat.

In the second inning, Aaron Judge fumbled Benintendi’s triple in the right-field corner as fans hovered over the wall and celebrated just inches away. And again Ramirez picked up an RBI. The Sox were up 4-0 after two.

It’s been a near-perfect 10-game beginning for Cora, who has led his team to nine straight wins after they coughed up the Opening Day game against the Tampa Bay Rays. It’s the best start in franchise history.

Sale said the hot start shows how confident the Red Sox are playing.

“I think (Cora) has a lot to do with that,” Sale said. “Look at him in the dugout and he’s calm. No panic.”

The only Yankees’ run came off a misplaced fastball from Sale that was demolished to deep center by Judge for his third homer of the season in the fifth inning.

The Yankees won 11-of-19 against the Sox last year but they’re now 0-1 against them in 2018.

Unbeatable Red Sox doing everything right

Michael Silverman

That memo, the one that read something about the Yankees being the stiff competition the Red Sox needed to bring them down to earth after feasting on the Marlins and Rays for their first nine games?

Pure spam.

After last night’s deliriously one-sided and dominating 14-1 series-opening romp, the Red Sox made the Yankees look like any other roadkill foolish enough to cross their path in this young but increasingly promising season.

If the third-inning sight of Giancarlo Stanton striking out on a Chris Sale pitch that was eye-high didn’t set the tone well enough, then the old-school David Mugar-sponsored fireworks show in the sixth, when the Sox exploded for nine runs capped off by a grand slam off the bat of Mookie Betts, did the trick.

The 9-1 Red Sox are playing both a literal and figurative brand of unbeatable baseball.

They still have not committed an error on the season, their bats -— even J.D. Martinez got in on the run- producing act with a Wall-scratching two-run double in the big sixth — are wide awake and their rotation is rolling.

Manager Alex Cora is consciously playing down the .900 winning percentage.

“I don’t know, it’s still early in the season. It’s only a good start,” said Cora. “We know that there’s a lot of work to be done, there are a few aspects in the game we need to keep improving. They’re willing to do it, they’re studying the game, they keep talking the game, which is awesome. We’re not getting caught up in the whole start, it’s just a good start, that’s it.”

The Red Sox haven’t changed their winning ways or how they’re playing. They are playing while smiling, they are playing with swagger, they are playing cleanly and they are looking down — way down — at a Yankees team that they just sent under .500 to a 5-6 record.

Sure, the teams will meet 18 more times this season, but last night delivered the type of rude, one-sided introduction that suits the nature of this rivalry.

It’s fair warning that the brand of baseball the Red Sox are brandishing right now is lethal against any foe. And while granting the likelihood that they will lose a game at some point this season, perhaps this month, the greeting they gave to the Yankees, the presumptive AL East winner by most preseason accounts, was a glorious yawp from an immensely appealing team that has forgotten what defeat tastes like. It’s been, what, 13 days since the Sox lost their season opener to the Rays?

Feels longer than that, as the Yankees learned, slowly at first before the Red Sox went all fast and furious on them.

Sale, in shortsleeves, his scruffy-bearded Sphinx-like, his demeanor never changing, came out sharper than his last start in Miami. His first strikeout came against Stanton but his third, in the third, was a clinic in how to exploit a struggling slugger. Stanton has little idea where his strike zone is these days, and after noting that he swung and missed at a shoulder-high fastball for strike two, Sale climbed the formidably ladder and smoked another one even higher upstairs that Stanton could not resist. The next slugger, Gary Sanchez, could not resist or connect against Sale’s slider.

When Sale located a pitch not outside enough against Aaron Judge, that slugger extended his arms and sent a solo home run into the center field bleachers in the fifth inning. At that point, it narrowed the score to 5-1, and nobody felt as if this was the beginning of the Red Sox’ decline. It marked nothing.

Sale had another quick inning in the sixth, and he was at 87 pitches before the Red Sox offense did him a favor.

“He was able to work ahead, use the fastball upstairs and then the next guy with the slider, did a good job,” Cora said. “He was going to go out the next inning but the game, you know, opened up. It made no sense for us for us to send him out there. Out of his three starts, that was his best one.”

Of course it was.

Sale is getting better, Betts is red-hot and the Sox have won nine out of their first 10 games.

It doesn’t matter who they’re playing. Until proven otherwise, they’re unbeatable.

Middles and endings count, too. But the Red Sox’ start this season, it counts for everything.

Rehabbing second baseman Dustin Pedroia is on schedule for early May return to Red Sox lineup

Jason Mastrodonato

The Red Sox have long been eyeing an early May return for Dustin Pedroia, and it seems like the second baseman is right on schedule.

Pedroia ran the bases yesterday for the first time since having cartilage restoration surgery on his left knee last October.

“You’ve seen him taking groundballs, he’s moving well,” Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. “I said it two days ago, ‘He’s moving better than he moved in October.’ I’m very happy with the progress.”

Pedroia will travel to Fort Myers next Tuesday to rehab with the training staff at the Red Sox’ facilities at JetBlue Park.

“He’s still a work in progress,” Cora said. “If you talk to him, he’s going to say he’s homeless there. We’re going to take it easy with him. It’s a big step. For him, it’ll be better now to go to Fort Myers with the weather and the controlled environment and go from there.”

Pedroia won’t yet play in minor league games but is getting closer.

Unlike in past years when Pedroia has rushed himself back from injuries or played through them, the Sox are making sure he’s extra cautious in regards to how hard he pushes himself.

Now 34 years old and under contract through 2021, Pedroia has admitted his focus is to stay healthy for the remainder of his career, not just 2018.

“I kind of haven’t taken that stance before so it’s been great,” he said during spring training. “I think that’s why the decision to have the surgery was important. If I didn’t, then yeah, there would be kind of an issue. The way it’s worked out, it was the best decision I could have made. My knee doesn’t hurt. Last year, waking up and walking around was painful. It’s not fun to live your life like that.

“Having the surgery, I could tell immediately that I was feeling better. Not one time did I have any pain in the entire process. Now it’s just building strength and getting back to being athletic and things like that, and your body picks that up quick.”

Pedroia said the doctors originally described the surgery as something that would give him “more tread on your tire and you can go crazy again.”

Pedroia has remained with the team while he’s recovered.

“I know it’s tough for him right now just to watch and not be a part of it, but he’s helping out too,” Cora said. “In the dugout, in the clubhouse, he’s talking.”

Alex Cora cops to rookie mistake

Steve Buckley

Red Sox manager Alex Cora told a bit of a whopper during yesterday’s pregame media huddle at Fenway Park.

Cora also made a startling admission about a managerial miscue, something that happens in big league baseball about as often as Halley’s Comet passes by Earth.

Let’s get the whopper out of the way first, since it’s really no big deal and happens to be a go-to for anyone who, for any number of reasons, can’t admit that a game between the Red Sox and Yankees is a bigger deal than a game between the Red Sox and, well, anybody else. But silly Cora sat there and said the Bombers’ first 2018 visit to Fenway Park is “just another series,” which, if history has taught us anything, simply is not true.

Perhaps what Cora meant to say was that, being a manager — not a player, not a bench coach, but a manager, as in Tommy Lasorda, Davey Johnson, Terry Francona and other skippers for whom Cora played — he can’t allow himself to get caught up in the sparklers and shiny baubles that help define Red Sox- Yankees.

If that’s where Cora was going . . . fine. But what’s even finer is that what we have here, Red Sox fans, is a manager who is so comfortable in his shoes that he’s willing to pull back the curtain a little and reveal the wizard is just a man. And men make mistakes.

In Cora’s view, his mistake happened in the top of the ninth inning of the Sox’ dramatic and improbable 8- 7 victory against the Tampa Bay Rays Sunday afternoon at Fenway. The Sox, you’ll recall, had been trailing 7-2 in the bottom of the eighth but rallied for six runs, a joyous turn of events for loyal fans who ignored the chilly weather and remained in their seats. Cora dutifully sent closer Craig Kimbrel to the mound in the ninth inning to chloroform the Rays.

What Cora didn’t do, and what went unnoticed at the time, was send in a defensive replacement for left fielder J.D. Martinez, a man who looks scary in a good way when he has a bat in his hands and scary in a bad way when he has a glove on his hand.

The smart move would have been to remove Martinez, shift Andrew Benintendi from center to left, and send Jackie Bradley Jr. in to play center.

The ninth-inning outfield went unchanged. The Rays went down 1-2-3, failing to get the ball out of the infield. Everyone went home happy.

Two days later — that is, yesterday — Cora decided he had some ’splainin’ to do.

“Honestly, I’m going to be honest with you, we scored six runs and we were so excited about it, and the manager missed that one,” he said.

In baseball, talking about a game two days after it has been played is like cooking fish two days after it has been taken out of the refrigerator. In this spirit, Cora was asked why he felt the need to admit his mistake.

“Because I did,” he said. “Why lie? It happens. Everybody saw that. I think I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. So if I am asking them to be that way, I better be that way because if I say something else, they know I am not telling the truth.”

Genuine?

Transparent?

Responsible?

In Boston?

This is going to take some getting used to. But if Cora hopes to expect accountability from his players, then it behooves him to be, dare we say it, Accountability Alex.

The rookie manager, appearing last week on WEEI radio, was asked about his team’s many baserunning foibles. Rather than swat the question away or get into a juvenile stare-down contest with one of the hosts, Cora said, “It’s been a struggle,” and that “if we’re going to be elite, we have to be a better baserunning team.”

By the standards of 30 years ago, Cora’s on-air comment about base-running is harmless. I’ve covered managers who overturned postgame food spreads (Doc Edwards), challenged players to fights () and buried players on the bench (Dick Williams).

Those days largely are gone.

Cora isn’t about overturned food spreads, he isn’t about street fights, and he isn’t about player-burying. He just wants better baserunning.

And said so.

Cora makes mistakes.

He said that as well.

Red Sox notebook: Xander Bogaerts kicks off walking boot

Jason Mastrodonato

Two days after hurting his ankle, Xander Bogaerts already is out of a walking boot.

Bogaerts, who suffered a small fracture in the talus bone of his left ankle and was placed on the 10-day disabled list before the Red Sox’ series with the New York Yankees, said yesterday he already is feeling substantially better than he did after sustaining the injury.

“I needed a boot my first few days, my first day especially,” Bogaerts said. “Walking back to my place was really tough. I couldn’t do it on my own. But today I could pretty much walk around, not pain-free. It’s all dependent on the weight that I walk. That’s when I get the most pain.

“It’s getting better in these couple of days that passed, so that’s obviously a huge plus.”

Bogaerts is expected to miss 10-14 days.

He said he’s still unsure how exactly he hurt himself. He assumed it must be from the impact of his foot on the concrete steps of the visitors dugout on Sunday when he slid trying to a ball from going out of play.

“I don’t think I remember feeling anything once I got up from the dugout,” he said. “Adrenaline just going after that ball, that probably had something to do with it. But stepping onto the field, probably my second step, I think, I started feeling it. And then I stepped again and felt it a little more, and then I walked in and said, ‘Hey, I don’t think I can go much more.’ ”

Bogaerts said he thought third baseman Rafael Devers would be covering the base when he did a no-look flip to third after a bad relay throw from J.D. Martinez in left field. But Devers went to back up the bad throw and was waiting behind Bogaerts instead.

“It’s just one of those things that was kind of weird,” Bogaerts said. “Hopefully I don’t get too much time off. I’m very optimistic everything’s going to be the same.”

Not short on ‘D’

Brock Holt started at shortstop in place of Bogaerts for last night’s game and hit in the No. 9 spot.

Tzu-Wei Lin was called up from Triple-A Pawtucket to take Bogaerts’ place on the roster and will get some starts at shortstop, manager Alex Cora said. Eduardo Nunez could also be in the mix.

“They’re going to play good defense, and we’ll take that on a daily basis, who’s going to play short,” Cora said. “Brock is playing today. We know he can put good at-bats. You saw the play he made to end the game on Sunday. As a group, with the information that’s been provided, we’re putting guys in spots where they’re going to make plays, and they will make plays.

“Obviously Xander is an elite shortstop, I understand that. When he comes back, he comes back. I’m not going to rush him. I’m not going to push him to come sooner rather than later. Hopefully he recovers and he’s back sooner rather than later, but we’ve got to move on. We’ve got to keep playing. We’ve got a good team, and we’re deep enough that for the period of time that he’s going to be away, we’re going to be comfortable with whoever’s playing short.”

Lin hit .268 with a .709 OPS in 25 games with the Red Sox last year. Cora said he’s probably the best shortstop on the active roster, and the skipper would consider using Lin as a defensive replacement late in games.

“Depending on where we are at, the score,” Cora said. “That is something like I told you guys, I think he could play shortstop defensively for a championship-caliber team, at third, at short and at second. He’s that good.

“Offensively he still needs to understand that there’s other stuff he can do to be a better offensive player — bunting, hitting the ball the other way, but defensively he was A-plus. He was great. At shortstop, his foot work, his tempo, it was fun to watch.”

Full speed ahead

Tyler Thornburg won’t single-handedly save the Sox’ questionable bullpen, but if he keeps throwing 95 mph, he should be able to help.

Thornburg is recovering from thoracic outlet syndrome surgery and remains a mystery as to how he’ll perform and when he’ll be ready to contribute. The Sox were encouraged when he hit 95 mph on the radar gun Monday during a minor league game at the complex in Fort Myers.

“That’s a good sign,” Cora said. “He’s still in his progression. Still, the changeup is not there yet, off-speed pitches, but to see his velocity get there, that’s a good sign. He’ll be in Fort Myers just with an extended program still throwing his games, and then we’ll make a decision at the end of the week.”

Hector Velazquez and Brian Johnson are still in the bullpen, but one of them will be held back to get the start on Saturday. The Sox are keeping Drew Pomeranz in the minors for one more start as he rehabs back from a forearm flexor strain.

“We’ll see how it goes the next few days, see who we use and who we don’t use and go from there,” Cora said. “We’ll probably have to make a decision, especially for that Saturday game for who we’re going to start. They’re very right-handed, the Yankees. Same with Baltimore. It’s going to be one of those that (Wednesday) we’ll make a decision who is going to start there, and we’ll go from there.”

* The Providence Journal

Yanks vs. Sox is a healthy rivalry once again

Kevin McNamara

BOSTON — There was a hiatus for a few years but we’re happy to report that baseball’s best rivalry is back in a pretty good place.

The first of 19 Red Sox-Yankees games tipped off at frigid Fenway Park on Tuesday night and that old buzz was rattling through the ball yard again. Two new managers who appreciate what it means to play in this ancient rivalry sent out lineups filled with stars. Aces Chris Sale and Luis Severino took the mound, with Boston’s fire-balling lefty leading the Sox to a 14-1 victory.

The Red Sox fans who packed the park came ready to hurl that devilish mix of invective hate that isn’t exactly present when the Rays or the Twins come to town. Big targets like sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton caught tons of abuse, especially the slump-ridden Stanton, who struck out meekly in his first two at-bats against Sale.

The health of the rivalry is really resting on the improving fate of the Yankees. The Bombers finally awoke from an inexcusable slumber last year when they won 90-plus games for the first time in five seasons. With a collection of young, explosive talent, the Yanks fell two games shy of the Red Sox in the A.L. East but woke up the echoes in the Bronx in October. A wildcard game win over the Twins was followed by a shocking upset of the Indians. A stirring American League Championship Series with the Astros didn’t end until a Game 7 loss.

Brian Cashman upped the ante in the offseason by trading for Stanton and now the Yanks are seen as the favorites to unseat the Red Sox atop the A.L. East.

Things haven’t started well for a Yankees team that came to town sporting a 5-5 record. Meanwhile the Red Sox took advantage of Tampa Bay and Miami to race out to the best start (9-1) in the franchise’s 118- year history. Both managers know that their team’s ultimate success will rest in large part in how they handle their chief opposition. They clearly couldn’t wait to see how they matched up.

“That’s a fun part of sports, rivalries,” said Boston’s Alex Cora. “Playing at the old Yankee Stadium was a lot of fun. You know a lot of people are watching. I’m glad I’m a part of it.”

Cora played for the Sox from 2005-08, winning a in 2007. Those Red Sox teams never faced the Yankees in October but Cora easily recalled a few personal highlights in the rivalry. He remembers winning a game with a single off Mariano Rivera and driving in four runs in a victory at Yankee Stadium.

When Cora insisted “It’s just another series” before the game, the gathered media didn’t bite. But Cora will be good for this series, if only because of his refreshing honesty. While John Farrell would filibuster basic questions with hardball gobbledygook, Cora lets the truth slip out. He said he’s most surprised by his team’s early-season defense because “halfway through spring training I was worried.” He even admitted to a mistake in Sunday’s comeback win over the Rays when he failed to lift J.D. Martinez for a defensive replacement.

“Honestly, I’m going to be honest with you, we scored six runs and we were so excited. The manager missed that one,” he said.

Why would he tip his hand? “Why lie? It happens. Everybody saw it. I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. If I’m asking them to be that way, then I better be that way,” he said.

Boone needs no introduction. His Game 7 home run to end the 2003 ALCS is one of the most memorable moments in recent baseball history. The shot made him a Yankees legend. In New England his name is best when hyphenated, just like Bucky Dent’s.

In his trips to Boston as an ESPN analyst, Boone says he was always been treated warmly. “Now that I have the uniform back on maybe that changes,” he admits.

Throwing a rookie manager into the pinstripes is risky. Boone is coping with a virulent injury bug and a strikeout plague that’s already turned Stanton into a target of the Bronx boo birds. Sale blew him away in his first two at-bats, giving him 22 strikeouts in his first 44 at-bats with the Yankees. Evidence of the slugger who led the majors in homers (59) a year ago is nowhere to be found.

“I think he’s handled everything really well,” Boone said, “and I think part of that comes from the confidence he has as a player. He understands that once he locks it in, he’s an MVP. He recognizes that and he sees the long game.”

The long game for the Red Sox-Yankees rivalry is exciting. The two teams should have the spotlight of the baseball world all summer, maybe until a season-ending set at Fenway in September.

With any luck, the drama will even spill into October. Just like the good old days.

Sox checking their options at shortstop

Bill Koch

BOSTON — Xander Bogaerts walked without a limp into the midst of an awaiting media gaggle in the clubhouse on Tuesday, his left ankle the topic of conversation for nearly six minutes.

The Red Sox shortstop was placed on the 10-day disabled list the previous afternoon after suffering an injury in Sunday’s 8-7 win over Tampa Bay. Subsequent tests revealed a cracked talus bone, with Boston and its leading hitter hoping for a quick recovery. Bogaerts appeared to suffer the injury when he slid to prevent an errant throw from entering the Rays’ dugout, crashing down the steps.

“I know the amount of pain I was in,” Bogaerts said. “I didn’t feel anything pop or dislocate or anything like that. I’m thankful that it wasn’t as big of a deal as it could have been.”

As he has since his offseason hiring, Red Sox manager Alex Cora stressed the organization would act with an abundance of caution. The fact that Bogaerts put up a 1.111 OPS and pounded out nine extra-base hits in as many games to start the year will have no bearing on any decision to activate him even when eligible to return. Cora is taking the long view with Brock Holt, Eduardo Nunez and Tzu-Wei Lin all available to fill in.

“Obviously, Xander is an elite shortstop,” Cora said. “I understand that. But when he comes back, he comes back. I’m not going to rush him. I’m not going to push him to come back sooner rather than later.”

Holt drew the start and batted ninth on Tuesday, carrying over from his stint as an injury replacement in the final two innings against the Rays. The utility man didn’t appear in a game at shortstop in 2017 but played there seven times in 2016 and 11 times during his all-star campaign in 2015.

“We kept fighting,” Holt said after Sunday’s win, as Boston strung together six straight two-out hits in the bottom of the eighth inning. “We had guys put together some really good at-bats. Some timely hitting. Really big inning for us.”

Nunez worked exclusively at second base in spring training and started there for the eighth time on Tuesday, filling in for the rehabbing Dustin Pedroia (left knee). He also made a start at third base during the season-opening series at Tampa Bay, with Cora saying at the time that all Nunez required was a full pregame session of ground balls to be comfortable. The manager repeated that sentiment on Tuesday.

“He’s more comfortable at short than at third,” Cora said. “It’s just a matter of him taking ground balls before the game and he’s fine.”

Lin had never played a game above Double-A Portland before making his Red Sox debut last season. His 25 games included nine walks and a .369 on-base percentage, with Lin cracking the lineup at every infield position but first base. The 24-year-old made a strong impression on Cora during his time in Fort Myers this spring.

“I feel like he can play shortstop defensively for a championship-caliber team,” Cora said. “At short, at third and at second — he’s that good.”

The most-seasoned replacement Boston could have opted for was traded away in March. Deven Marrero was shipped to the Diamondbacks for cash considerations or a player to be named later, ending his six-year association with Boston. Marrero’s struggles at the plate prevented the 2012 first-round pick from ever settling in the big leagues with Boston, as he compiled just a .593 OPS in 71 games last season.

“I know we had a good one, and we did what we did,” Cora said. “That happened. But we’re very comfortable with [Lin] coming late in games and making plays.”

Bogaerts hopes to resume baseball activities sometime within the next week and has already shed the walking boot he wore over the last two days. He’s itching to return to a Red Sox team that is off to its best start in franchise history and disappointed to watch at least the bulk of the next two weeks from the dugout.

“That sucks,” Bogaerts said. “Being part of this team, the way they’re playing right now, I think anyone could come in and fill in and do the job. It’s just a lot of positive energy here and I don’t want this to be a setback for anyone.”

* MassLive.com

David Price hasn't allowed a run & 'he's really having a lot of fun playing baseball again'

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- David Price, who pitches today against the Yankees at Fenway Park, dominated his first two games for the 2018 Boston Red Sox with 14 scoreless innings combined.

How's he doing it?

"He's commanding the ball very well," pitching coach Dana LeVangie said. "He's healthy right now. He had a healthy spring. He's confident in himself. Trusts in himself being who he wants to be. He hasn't felt this way in a long time health-wise with his elbow. He's really having a lot of fun playing baseball again. He's being the guy he wants to be.

"Anyone who has to deal with injury, it can frustrate people in a way that doesn't allow them to do things they want to: pitch or compete the way they want to," LeVangie added. "He's allowed to do what he wants to do right now."

Perhaps we shouldn't be surprised. Maybe he never stopped being an ace.

His Red Sox career began extremely ugly with a 6.75 ERA in his first seven starts of 2016 after inking a seven-year, $217-million contract.

But he has a 3.21 ERA over his past 277 1/3 regular season innings for Boston.

"Baseball's tough," Red Sox starter Rick Porcello said. "You can't judge it by one start or two starts. You've got to judge it by a full season and the big picture. And honestly, his first year here, he went 230 innings and had 17 wins and a sub-4 ERA. That's pretty damn good in my book.

"So if you take out a couple of the bad starts and some of those things, he's done nothing but throw the ball well. And he's battling through stuff that a lot of guys can't battle through. And he's doing a hell of a job doing it. So I'm happy for him and most importantly, I'm happy for our ballclub. Because he's obviously a huge part of it."

Price's fastball velocity actually has been down this year. He averaged 92.4 mph through two starts, per Fangraphs.com. He averaged 94.3 mph last year (8 2/3 of his 74 2/3 innings during 2017 came in relief increasing the velo average).

He averaged 92.9 mph his first year with Boston in 2016 and 94.2 mph in 2015.

He has thrown more cutters than ever before.

He has used his cutter 35.3 percent of the time, an increase from 20.7 percent last year, 19.7 percent in 2016 and 15.9 percent in 2015.

But LeVangie said Price hasn't made a concerted effort to throw more cutters.

"Not necessarily," LeVangie said. "He's, in a good way, a great field guy on the mound. He reads swings really well. He understands how he wants to use his pitch mix effectively. So it's maybe how he feels with it."

Price has executed the cutter and fastball to both sides of the plate. He's placing his pitches perfectly. He has allowed only three walks in 14 innings.

"That's pitching, that's part of his game," Porcello said. "More importantly, that's the foundation. That's where you've got to start. But when he's got runners on base, he battles back and gets the outs that he needs to get and that's the biggest part."

Porcello pointed out two of Price's three walks this season came in the same inning Thursday but he battled out of the jam.

Price walked two after retiring the first batter in the fifth. But he escaped with a strikeout and groundout of the top two Rays batters (Matt Duffy and Kevin Kiermaier).

"It looked like it was going to be a tough inning for him," Porcello said. "Then he came right back and got the next two guys out, no problems. That's the difference right there. That's the momentum shift between keeping it on your side and letting them take over."

The lefty also allowed a double and walk to begin the third but retired Duffy on a groundout and Kiermaier and Carlos Gomez on popouts.

Flash back to an article MassLive.com ran July 27, 2017, titled David Price's volatile 2017 Boston Red Sox season of odd behavior surprises ex-teammates, but should it?

Derek Shelton, who served as Rays hitting coach from 2010-16, said of Price, "He's got an extremely infectious personality, and I mean that in a good way.

"(He) very positively is like a 12-year-old kid because he loves to play. ... He's actually honestly one of my favorite guys I've ever been around in the game."

That sounds like the Price who LeVangie described above. He's having fun playing baseball again.

Maybe that's the biggest difference between 2018 Price and 2016-17 Price.

"He's been tremendous throughout the offseason, tremendous through spring training, here during the season," LeVangie said. "Great, great to have him around."

Aggressive Betts: Sox leadoff man isn't 'taking too many pitches right down the middle' anymore

Christopher Smith

BOSTON -- Alex Cora saw the damage George Springer did at the top of the lineup when he served as Astros bench coach last year. Springer belted 34 homers, drove in 85 runs and set the tone for everyone else.

Cora felt he could replicate that lineup formula in Boston with Mookie Betts.

"A slugger leading off," Cora said. "(Betts) is going to make contact. But now he understands that he can do damage in the strike zone. He doesn't just have to put the ball in play and get singles."

Cora has had Betts embrace a more aggressive approach at the leadoff spot this year.

It's working.

The right fielder went 4-for-4 with a grand slam, two doubles, one walk and five runs in the Red Sox's 14-1 win over the Yankees here at Fenway Park on Tuesday.

Swing early and swing often. That's the philosophy.

"I think it's an easy adjustment, which is just pretty much swing more," Betts said. "So when I'm in the box, that's kind of what I'm thinking."

Cora phoned Betts right after he accepted the managerial position and immediately began preaching a more aggressive approach.

"It was one of the first things he said to me so I know he must really pay attention to detail," Betts said. "He showed me numbers of my swing percentages. Not necessarily scouting reports, just swing more often."

Betts' aggressiveness was on full display here Tuesday.

He belted a 1-0 96.7 mph four-seamer against Luis Severino to lead off the bottom of the first inning.

He ripped a 1-2 slider for a single in his second at-bat. He took a ball to begin the at-bat and then fouled off a changeup and fastball.

He walked on five pitches in his third at-bat. He swung at the only strike he saw.

He doubled on a 1-1 94.1 mph fastball in the sixth. His grand slam, also in the sixth, came on a 2-1 83.3 mph splitter.

He saw 18 pitches (nine strikes). He let only two strikes go by without swinging.

"He's not swinging and missing, but I told him, 'Hey, man, there's nothing wrong with swinging and missing at pitches,'" Cora said. "It doesn't matter. Go for it. And there was a 2-0 count I think that he took a big hack and he swung and missed. It's just a strike. With his ability he's going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat. You can see, he's ready to hit.

"It's not like he's taking pitches just to take. That's what we call bad takes. He was taking too many pitches right down the middle. And he can do damage with them."

Breaking down the 6th-inning Boston Red Sox surge over the New York Yankees

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON – The Red Sox handed the Yankees their most lopsided loss in nearly three years. A major reason why, of course, was a nine-run explosion in the sixth inning.

Twelve batters hit. Mookie Betts did twice – pelting a double to start the rally and putting a bow on Tuesday’s game with a walloped grand slam over the Green Monster in left the very same inning.

In between, a little bit everything – including some Yankees wonkiness – unfolded.

A look at the inning…

Betts spoke postgame about his willingness to jump on pitches earlier in the count, harkening back to a conversation with Red Sox coaches during spring training. The numbers, they told Betts, were better when he was swinging earlier in at-bats.

Of course, this doesn’t necessarily mean free-wheeling it at the dish. There’s a distinction. Andrew Benintendi touched on it postgame.

“He goes in there with an idea of what he wants to do,” Benintendi said of Betts. “He doesn’t swing at bad pitches. He waits for that pitcher to throw what he wants or make a mistake. When they do, it’s trouble for them.”

Take his one-out double in the sixth for example.

Betts took a 94 mile-per-hour fastball on the inner-half from Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle and ripped it to left, past Giancarlo Stanton. It was Betts’ second double of the game, and fourth consecutive at-bat reaching base.

The Red Sox saw a lot of pitches Tuesday – 161 to be exact. They drew seven walks. Three of those came from Kahnle, who had previously entered with a tidy 1.059 WHIP.

Benintendi drew a four-pitch walk. Ramirez followed with a five-pitch free pass.

Bases loaded.

J.D. Martinez finally gets one to land Perhaps if it wasn’t 38 degrees Tuesday night, or even if Aaron Judge wasn’t 6-foot-7, J.D. Martinez could’ve had an extra-base-hit in the second inning. He scorched a liner to the wall in right field that Judge ultimately came down with.

Martinez has seemed a bit a unlucky in the early goings of 2018.

He wasn’t so in the sixth inning Tuesday.

He stayed alive against Kahnle, fouling off a 1-2 changeup at his knees. The next pitch – the fifth of his at- bat – he belted a fastball at the top of the strike zone to the deepest part of left-center, lofting it toward the yellow stripe climbing the right end of the Monster.

A few feet to the right, and Martinez had a grand slam.

He settled for a two-run double instead, driving in Betts and Benintendi. The Red Sox lead grew to 7-1.

Rafael Devers with a sacrifice fly, making it 8-1. But Kahnle issued a two-out, four-pitch walk to Eduardo Nunez, his final batter. He was replaced by lefty Chasen Shreeve.

Shreeve promptly hit Jackie Bradley Jr. with his first pitch, again loading the bases. Yankees rookie third baseman Miguel Andujar booted a Christian Vazquez chopper, allowing Martinez to score. The Red Sox lead was 9-1.

Shreve then walked Brock Holt, who is still without a hit this year.

Setting up Betts…

Mookie’s grand slam Betts again jumped on a very hittable pitch – the fourth of his at-bat. After letting a pair of outside fastballs and a splitter go by, he jumped on a 2-1 splitter that stayed up in the zone, seemingly floating toward the middle of the plate.

The result was his third career grand slam.

A look at Betts' grand slam

Betts currently leads the majors in hitting. He scored five runs Tuesday, a career best, and reached base five times. Every ball he hit sizzled.

“I mean, at this point it’s almost not impressive,” Chris Sale deadpanned.

“I’m just kidding. I think he was involved in nine runs? Scored five? He just continues to be unbelievable. We all knew at the time he stepped into the big leagues he was going to be a pretty special player. He was on tonight.”

The final damage The sixth inning finally ended on an Andrew Benintendi ground-out 12 batters later.

In all, Boston scored nine runs (six unearned), seeing its lead balloon to 14-1. They saw 41 pitches, faced two different Yankees pitchers, and scored nine runs in an inning versus the Yankees for the first time since 1998.

The surge cemented their ninth consecutive win, continuing the best start in franchise history.

Chris Sale on Boston Red Sox 9-game winning streak: 'We have a lot of trust, faith in one and other'

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON - The Red Sox are scorching hot. And for the second time this week, a key player within the team's clubhouse made it a point to acknowledge the team's overall morale.

Chris Sale was asked about Boston's 9-1 start - the best in franchise history - following a dominant 14-1 victory over the Yankees on Tuesday at Fenway.

"It's really important," Sale said.

"You can go through all the cliches. It's a long season, there's a lot of games left, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah. But you see the morale in here. You see the energy, the confidence. The easiness. It allows you to go out there and just play. There's no pressing the panic button early. We're just going out there and playing the game. I think we have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in one and other."

A couple examples sure do point that way. The Red Sox exploded for nine runs Tuesday in a punishing sixth inning. Sunday, they rallied for six runs in the eighth inning to beat the Rays.

"Shoot, look at the other night," Sale said. "We were down five runs. There was no panic. There was never any doubt in anyone's mind we could do what we did. I think it goes to show what kind of guys we have in here and the hell of a lineup we have."

Of course, it's easy to sing praises following a start like this. The Red Sox haven't slumped yet, rolling through their first 10 games under first-year manager Alex Cora. Check the temperature again following the first losing skid to get a full read on this year's version of the team.

But J.D. Martinez said something similar to Sale four days ago, too. And it's hard to ignore that everyone, it seems, is on the same page early.

"Composed, relaxed, chillin', hanging out," Martinez said. "Everybody's hungry. Everybody just kind of goes out there and plays. This is a very loose team, a loose clubhouse. I think Alex (Cora) does a great job of that. We're 7-1 but it really doesn't feel like we're 7-1. It feels like, whatever. We're just playing baseball right now."

Other notes from Sale's start Tuesday ...

Sale has allowed just two runs all season. He struck out eight Yankees, and his career ERA against New York down to 1.73.

Sale generated a number of swing-and-misses early Tuesday. He was in attack-mode early. Against the Yankees, he said, there's no other choice: "There's no let-up there. That's a heck of a lineup. It just seems like one right after the other. You better have your stuff together there in the first inning, because you can see how it can get out of hand quick. You just try to bear down and do the best you can."

Mookie Betts, Chris Sale shine in Boston Red Sox 14-1 rout of New York Yankees

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON - Life won't always be this good for the Boston Red Sox.

But, at least for now, it's hard to envision it going any better.

The Sox welcomed their rival New York Yankees to town with aplomb Tuesday night in a 14-1 win. Boston bats thumped Yankees ace Luis Severino early. Chris Sale mostly cruised, scattering eight hits and handling everyone not named Aaron Judge with relative ease. And then New York completely fell apart in a sloppy sixth inning that led to nine Red Sox runs, highlighted by a laser of a grand slam by Mookie Betts over the Green Monster.

Betts dazzled all night, going 4-for-4, scoring a career-high five runs and driving in four more. Boston's top-of-the-order triumvirate of Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez scorched the Yankees all night.

The trio made outs only twice through the first six innings - a Ramirez sacrifice fly in the fourth and a Benintendi ground-out in the sixth. He was the 12th batter to hit in the sixth inning.

Boston (9-1) continues a franchise-best start to the season. The last American League East team to win nine of its first 10 games? The 2003 New York Yankees.

Tuesday had somewhat of a big-game feel, even as Alex Cora tried to temper expectations, saying "it was just another series." Fenway Park didn't sell out, holding a crowd of 32,357.

But Mookie Betts said pregame he expected Tuesday, the start of a three-game series with the Yankees, to feel like a playoff game. Fans showered Aaron Judge with boos and erupted every time Giancarlo Stanton swung and missed - which was often during his first two at-bats.

Boston's offense responded early, even giving itself reasons not to rue a missed opportunity in the first inning. Seven Sox batters marched to the plate in the first inning against Severino, led by a lead-off double from Betts, and forced the Yankees starter to throw 27 pitches. Hanley Ramirez drove Betts in, but Jackie Bradley Jr. struck out with the bases loaded, capping the lead at 1-0.

No matter. The Red Sox sent seven more batters to the plate in the second inning, content to let an erratic Severino work his way into jams. Benintendi, who entered hitting .161, ripped a two-run triple to right field that Judge misplayed against the wall. Ramirez ripped another RBI single, giving Boston a 4-0 lead, then stole second base and advanced to third on a throwing error, showing that, perhaps, his goals of a 30-30 season were not as hyperbolic as originally taken.

Sale struck out eight batters over six innings, allowing just one run. He delighted Fenway's jeering faithful early, too, mowing down free-swinging Giancarlo Stanton early with a bevy of overpowering fastballs.

Sale's only issue - a 6-foot-7-sized issue - was Judge. The Yankees star was previously 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts against Sale but opened the game with three straight hits, including a towering solo homer in the fifth inning.

According to Statcast, Judge's homer went 444 feet and left the bat at 116 miles per hour - the second- hardest hit ball ever hit off Sale in the Statcast era.

Otherwise, no Yankees batter advanced past second versus Sale.

Sale was especially effective against Stanton, whose penchant for hitting massive homers (and his massive contract) will make him an easy target at least for the early tenure of his Yankees career. He challenged him with a 95.5 mile-per-hour heater in the first, his hardest fastball of the opening frame, and Stanton swung under it by inches.

With two runners on in the third, Sale climbed the ladder against Stanton, who struck out on a fastball at his eyes.

Stanton had entered Tuesday's game having struck out in nearly half (20 strikeouts in 48 plate appearances) trips to the plate, even eliciting boos from Yankees fans last week during a homestand in New York. He went 2-for-4, reaching base in his final two at-bats.

Red Sox hitters jumped on Yankees reliever Tommy Kahnle in the sixth. Betts again opened the inning with a double. Benintendi and Ramirez followed with walks, setting up J.D. Martinez, who launched a two- run double high off the Monster in left-center that flirted with the yellow stripe - and a possible grand slam.

Yankees pitchers walked three batters and hit two more in the sixth inning alone, even walking in a run. An error from third baseman Miguel Andujar only made it worse.

And then Betts ended it, once and for all, with a monster shot.

Dustin Pedroia injury: Boston Red Sox 2B runs bases Tuesday, will soon head to Fort Myers

Mark Chiarelli

BOSTON - The Red Sox continue to take a cautious approach with Dustin Pedroia, although he took another step in the right direction Tuesday.

Boston manager Alex Cora said Pedroia ran the bases Tuesday. It checks another box in Pedroia's recovery from a cartilage restoration process performed on his left knee in October.

Cora said Pedroia will head to extended spring training in Fort Myers next Tuesday.

"It's still a work in progress," Cora said. "If you talk to him, he's going to say he's almost there. But we have to take it easy with him. It's a good step. I think for him it'd be better now to go to Fort Myers with the weather, the controlled environment, and go from there."

Pedroia has started taking swings and fielding ground balls. Still, though, Cora said he isn't ready to start playing in games, even in extended spring training.

He added the team doesn't want him running the bases in game action yet.

"He'll probably track pitches, most likely," Cora said. "I think that's as controlled of an environment as we can have Friday to start at least getting him toward baseball activities."

Pedroia was hampered by the knee throughout much of last season, and previously underwent surgery on a torn meniscus in the same knee in 2016.

While running the bases Tuesday certainly represents progress, it sounds as if the 34-year-old is still weeks away.

"He's moving well," Cora said. "I said two days ago, he's moving better now than he was in October. I'm very happy with the progress."

* The Worcester Telegram & Gazette

Red Sox 14, Yankees 1: Boston extends historic start

Bill Ballou

BOSTON_Wouldn’t it be ironic if the Rays and Marlins turn out to be the best teams the Red Sox play this month, not the worst?

At least against the Floridians, Boston were in some close games. There was a 1-0 thrown in there, a couple of 3-2s, a 2-1 and even an 8-7. The thing is, the Sox outscored those teams by a total of 16 runs in nine games. They outscored the Yankees by 13 on Tuesday night, 14-1.

Boston’s offense pounded out 11 hits, six for extra bases. The Red Sox are 9-1, continuing the best start in franchise history.

“There are certain series that get you going,” Alex Cora said, “but it’s still early, still early in the season and it’s only a good start and there’s a lot of work to be done, aspects of the game we need to keep improving.”

Geez. Maybe the next manager really does think Boston can go 161-1.

The Red Sox were paced offensively by Mookie Betts, one of the leading characters of that fairly new breed, the leadoff batter who could lead the league in home runs. Betts was 4 for 4 and scored four runs, precisely what you’d expect from your leadoff man. He also had two doubles and a grand slam, though, to account for four RBIs, more precisely what you’d expect from your cleanup hitter.

Betts is batting .432. The grand slam was Boston’s second of the season. The Sox did not have one in all of 2017.

“We’ve been talking about this since November,” Cora said of Betts. “If you’re facing us you have to execute from Pitch One. That’s the first thing that came to mind with the plan that I had - he’s gonna lead off. I saw him last year and I know how it works.”

Chris Sale was the beneficiary of the Sox’ offensive largesse, and if he can’t take all those extra tallies and put them in some sort of of 401K for runs, he was at least able to get out of work a bit early.

“He was excellent,” Cora said. “He was able to work ahead, use his fastball to set up hitters. He was gonna go out for the next inning but then the game opened up and it made no sense. Out of the three starts, that was his best one and he’s getting better.”

The Red Sox provided Sale with an early 4-0 cushion and he was never in trouble. He surrendered a mammoth home run to Aaron Judge in the fifth, the ball landing well up into the center field bleachers but — so what — it still just counted as one run.

It was the only one Sale gave up. He fanned eight, walked none and allowed the homer plus seven harmless hits to finally register his first win of the season.

Luis Severino was as bad as Sale was good. The Yankees starter went five innings and also gave up eight hits, except that they wound up resulting in five runs. He walked three and struck out six and is 2-1 for the season.

Severino, however, had nothing to do with Boston’s runs volcano in the sixth. The Red Sox had a cornucopia of plate appearances as part of the rally.

Tommy Kahnle came on to face the Red Sox in that inning and started off well enough, getting Brock Holt on a ground ball to first base. The inning ended 10 batters later with Andrew Benintendi grounding out to second.

Betwixt and between, Betts doubled and homered. Benintendi, Hanley Ramirez and Eduardo Nunez walked, Rafael Devers hit a sacrifice fly, Jackie Bradley was hit by a pitch and Christian Vazquez reached on an error.

Now, 14 runs is pretty good and especially good on a night like Tuesday. The NHL plays outdoor games in warmer weather. Still, Cora expects his team to do even more with the bat.

“We’re getting better, staying away from strikes on the edges,” he said. “Little by little they’re gonna start understanding and they’re gonna keep getting better. We’ve had two big innings — one Sunday and one today.”

If the plan holds, there will be more of those with Betts right in the middle of things, much like he was two years ago.

Red Sox Journal: Cora owns up to mistake

Bill Ballou

BOSTON — Not only has the air been cool at Fenway Park this season, it has been fresh.

New manager Alex Cora has a lot to do with that.

In his pregame press conference on Tuesday afternoon, Cora admitted that he made a mistake in not taking J.D. Martinez out of left field in favor of a defensive replacement in the top of the ninth on Sunday immediately after the Red Sox’ stunning comeback versus the Rays.

“Honestly,” Cora said, “I’m going to be honest with you — we scored six runs and we were so excited about it and the manager messed up.”

That type of candor has rarely been seen from Red Sox managers through the years. John Farrell tried to remove Addison Reed one pitch after a mound visit by Carl Willis at Yankee Stadium in August and could not because it is against the rules. Farrell admitted the blunder, but had no choice.

In April 2012, Bobby Valentine thought Twins pitcher Liam Hendricks was a southpaw, not a righty, and posted an inappropriate lineup before changing it pregame.

The classic uh-oh story about a managerial mistake dates to May 3, 1989 when confused White Sox righty Shawn Hillegas with lefty Paul Kilgus. So, he put his right-handed hitting batting order on the lineup card, including Rick Cerone, who had stayed out late the night before figuring he wasn’t going to be in the game.

At his postgame press meeting, Morgan was asked about Mike Greenwell’s 3-for-3 day and Morgan said, “That’s not the story of this game” and explained the pitching mixup.

“I said, [Darn] it, I’ll leave the lineup like it is,” Morgan continued. Boston won, 8-4, with Cerone driving in three runs.

While Cora didn’t volunteer his mistake, he was quick to own up to it.

“Because I did. Why lie?” Cora said. “I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. So, if I’m asking them to be that way, then I’d better be that way or they know I’m not telling the truth.”

It may or may not be a coincidence, but Morgan and Cora have the best two records to begin their managerial careers in Red Sox history. Morgan went 12-0 after he was hired in 1988 and Cora was 8-1 in his first nine games this season.

Injury report

Drew Pomeranz, coming back a sore left forearm, needs another rehab start and will make it Friday at Double-A Portland. Tyler Thornburg also is progressing, as he has been for months.

Dustin Pedroia will report to Fort Myers next week to continue his rehab.

“He’s a work in progress,” Cora said, “but we’ll take it easy with him. ... He’s moving well, better than in October.”

Pedroia is not ready to play in extended spring training games, but the better weather and controlled environment should help his progress.

Marco Hernandez (left shoulder surgery) was in the clubhouse before the game but his progress is slower than expected, according to Cora.

Never-quit attitude

Mookie Betts has been part of the Red Sox’ historically good start and weighed in on it before the game.

“We have what it takes to come back from any deficit. We just try not to get down and not to worry about it,” he said, adding, “Everyone’s giving us a chance to win. That’s all we can ask for as hitters. It’s just our job to put up some runs for them.

Tonight’s probables

The series with the Yankees continues Wednesday night at 7:10 with David Price starting for the Red Sox and Masahiro Tanaka for New York. Price is 1-0 and has not allowed an earned run in two starts this season. Tanaka is 1-1, 2.92.

Good and bad

Boston has played its first 10 games of the season with nary an error, although Christian Vazquez was charged with a harmless passed ball. Since at least 1940, the Red Sox are the first team to start a season without an error in its first 10 games.

“Overall we’ve been been a good defensive team,” Cora said, “and halfway through spring training I was very concerned about our defense.”

The opposite side of that coin has been Boston’s poor work on the bases, which has cost the Sox some runs but has not been a season-wrecker.

“Baserunning — we have to be better,” Cora said. “Better leads, better reads, making good decisions.”

* The Portland Press Herald

It’s all going so good for the Red Sox

Kevin Thomas

BOSTON — As Xander Bogaerts sees it, this Boston Red Sox team is on cruise control.

“The way we’re playing, anyone can come in and do the job,” said Bogaerts, who can’t do the job right now because of an ankle injury.

“There’s a lot of positive energy here. Next guy up.”

Bogaerts is batting .368 with nine RBI. He’s not replaced by one player – although Brock Holt and Tzu- Wei Lin will be filling in at shortstop – but by a team that is on a magical run, on a nine-game winning streak and the best start in franchise history.

No Bogaerts on Tuesday. No problem.

Mookie Betts (grand slam) was the big hitter. But don’t ignore Andrew Benintendi, who had been batting .161 (but with nine walks). Benintendi had two more walks, sandwiched around a two-run triple and a double.

The offense is coming.

“The at-bats, we’ve been more aggressive in the strike zone,” Red Sox Manager Alex Cora said.

Tuesday’s game was important for a couple of reasons, the first being the teams involved – Red Sox and Yankees.

“The rivalry means so much to so many people, whether in August or April or October,” said new Yankees manager Aaron Boone or, as he was known in 2003, Aaron Bleeping Boone (after his walk-off homer in Game 7 of the ALCS against Boston).

“Much of the treatment I’ve gotten over the years (in Boston) has been good-natured,” Boone said. “Now that I have the uniform on, maybe that changes.”

Cora, who also played in this rivalry, said the matchup is fun, like others he’s been a part of – “Miami- FSU, Dodgers-Giants … Astros-Rangers?” But he downplayed it.

“We understand they play in our division,” Cora said. “We have the same goal – to win the series; same goal we had against the Rays and the Marlins.”

But that’s the value of playing the Yankees. Tampa Bay and Miami are among baseball’s bottom-feeders. As impressive as Boston’s 8-1 start was, it came with a disclaimer because of who the Red Sox played.

The Yankees entered as the preseason favorites to win the American League East, especially after the trade for Giancarlo Stanton, a slugger who would bat between bashers Aaron Judge and Gary Sanchez.

But the mighty Stanton is struggling mightily. He came into the game with 20 strikeouts in his first 10 games, and a .167 average.

“I want him to get jump-started because I know what a difference-maker he is,” Boone said.

Jump-start? Against Chris Sale on a 38-degree night? Good luck with that.

In his first two at-bats, Sale threw seven pitches, all fastballs, all for strikes. Stanton whiffed both times. He singled in the fifth and doubled in the eighth (off Brian Johnson), which has the Yankees hopeful.

“It’s a timing issue,” Boone said. “As soon as he gets that feeling and strings a couple of good at-bats together, look out.”

Boston’s high-priced slugger, J.D. Martinez, has been not tearing it up, yet – although his two-run double was encouraging. The Red Sox are showing a deep lineup, even without Bogaerts.

New York’s lineup is ailing. Greg Bird (ankle) might be back next month and Aaron Hicks (oblique) could be here by Thursday. Brandon Drury (blurred vision) is out indefinitely and, of course, Jacoby Ellsbury (hip) remains on the DL.

Bogaerts, who has a “small crack” in an ankle bone, could be back in two weeks. He wore a protective boot on Sunday (when he was hurt) and Monday, but did not need it Tuesday.

“I am a little bit (in pain) walking-wise,” Bogaerts said. “It’s getting better, so that’s a huge plus.”

Everything is positive in Boston right now.

Cora could even joke about a goof he made in Sunday’s dramatic comeback win over the Rays. When the Red Sox took the lead with a six-run eighth inning, Cora meant to make a defensive substitution for Martinez in left for the ninth, but forgot.

“Honestly, we score six runs and we were so excited, the manager missed that one,” Cora said.

He laughed. The Red Sox are 9-1. It’s all good.

*Redsox.com

Red Sox rout rival Yanks, keep up historic start

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- The way the Red Sox figured it, the best way to warm up Fenway Park on a sub-40-degree Tuesday night was to bash a barrage of hits in their first rivalry matchup against the Yankees this season.

Behind a monster performance by Mookie Betts and a strong outing from the mound by ace Chris Sale, the red-hot Sox made it nine wins in a row by thumping the Yankees, 14-1. With the victory, Alex Cora became the fourth manager in the modern era to start his tenure 9-1, joining Mets rookie manager Mickey Callaway, who accomplished the feat roughly 20 minutes earlier with a win over the Marlins.

"Felt good tonight. Helps when they score two touchdowns and kick both [extra points], so that's nice," said Sale.

For the Red Sox, there were many big performances. It started with leadoff man Betts, who went 4-for-4, reached base five times, scored five times and had a grand slam. Betts became the first Red Sox player to have four hits, four runs and four RBIs in a game against the Yankees since the RBI became an official stat in 1920.

"It's definitely super fun being involved in any win," said Betts. "I just do what I can. Sale did a great job keeping them off the board. The rest of the guys as well. Can't ask for an easier win."

That easy win allowed Cora to join not only Callaway, but also former Red Sox manager Joe Morgan (10-0 in 1988) and the Phillies' Pat Moran (9-1 in 1915) as the only skippers to guide their clubs to nine victories in their first 10 games on the bench.

"They're studying the game, and they keep talking the game, which is awesome," said Cora. "But we're not getting caught up in the whole start. It's just a good start, that's it."

It was all Boston, all night. The exclamation point was in the sixth, when the Red Sox scored nine runs on three hits, including the third career slam by Betts and a two-run double to center by J.D. Martinez.

Then there was Sale, who picked up his first win of the season by holding New York to a run and no walks while striking out six over six innings. Two of the K's were against prized new Yankees acquisition Giancarlo Stanton, which got the Fenway fans on their feet.

"There's no letup there," said Sale. "I mean, that's a heck of a lineup. It just seems like one right after the other. You better have your stuff together there in the first inning, because I could see how it could get out of hand quick."

By contrast, Yankees ace Luis Severino labored from the start, allowing a run in the first and three more in the second to pin his team in a 4-0 hole against Sale.

The righty lasted five innings while allowing eight hits and five runs.

"On a night like that, they wanted to keep going, and it's not an easy night to hit," said Cora. "They found a way to grind out at-bats against a great pitcher. His stuff was still there. He was throwing 99 [mph]. He didn't have the slider. He had to go to his changeup, which is different than usual, so we made adjustments and we put good swings on it."

There wasn't much for the Yankees to feel good about in this one until Aaron Judge unloaded for a solo shot deep into the bleachers in center to slim Boston's lead to 5-1. It was a certified rocket by Judge, leaving the bat at 116.3-mph and traveling a projected distance of 444 feet. The exit velocity was the highest against Sale since Statcast™ started in 2015. It was the fifth hardest-hit homer in baseball this season.

"It was a tough game, a tough loss," said Judge. "Nothing was really working for us. We weren't able to string a couple of hits together off Sale tonight, and that's tough. One of the best pitchers in the game, you've got to be able to manufacture some runs and put a couple on the board early. We weren't able to do that tonight, and they were able to do it against Sevy."

After the Judge laser, it was all Boston. Fittingly, it was Betts who started that nine-run rally in the sixth with a one-out double.

Andrew Benintendi (triple, double, two runs, two RBIs) and Hanley Ramirez (three RBIs) also had plenty to say about this one.

MOMENTS THAT MATTERED Hanley breaks bat, fights off heat: Things were going so well for the Red Sox in the second inning that even when Ramirez broke his bat, he got rewarded. The first baseman fought off a 98.9-mph heater from Severino for an RBI single to left that boosted Boston's lead to 4-0.

Sale stifles Stanton, Sanchez: The Yankees had a chance to get right back in the game in the third with two on and one out and Stanton and Gary Sanchez coming up. Sale buckled down and struck out Stanton on high heat. The pitch was measured at 4.52-feet high. That's the highest pitch Stanton has swung at since the beginning of 2016, and the highest pitch Sale has gotten a swing and miss on in his career. Sanchez worked a six-pitch at-bat, but he struck out on a nasty slider.

QUOTABLE "We've been talking about this since November. If you're facing us, you have to execute from pitch one, and that's what I wanted and that's why I mentioned it. That's the first thing that came to mind, you know, the plan that I had, he's going to lead off because I saw it first-hand last year [with George Springer]. I know how it works, and he accepted the challenge and he's doing an outstanding job." -- Cora, on the decision to make Betts his leadoff hitter

SOUND SMART WITH YOUR FRIENDS The five runs by Betts were the most by a Boston player against the Yankees since at least 1908. It was the first five-run performance by a Red Sox hitter since Jackie Bradley Jr. on Aug. 15, 2015, against the Mariners.

WHAT'S NEXT Lefty David Price has come out blazing this season with 14 scoreless innings over his first two starts. He will get his best test yet when he faces the Yankees' loaded lineup on Wednesday in hopes of giving the Red Sox a 10-game winning streak. In his career against the Yankees, Price is 15-11 with a 4.53 ERA. First pitch is scheduled for 7:10 p.m. ET.

Mookie hits slam, turns in Monster night

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- Each time Mookie Betts turned his lightning-quick wrists on Tuesday night, the Yankees paid for it.

The right fielder turned in a monster performance for the Red Sox, including a grand slam in the bottom of the sixth inning that capped a nine-run frame that punctuated a 14-1 win in the first rivalry matchup of 2018.

Betts reached in all five plate appearances and scored five runs, going 4-for-4. Three of the hits were for extra bases.

The sizzling Red Sox have won nine in a row after losing on Opening Day, and Betts (.432/.533/.730) has had plenty to do with it.

This was exactly what Alex Cora envisioned back in November when he decided almost immediately after getting the job as Boston's manager that Betts would lead off.

While winning a World Series as bench coach for the Astros last year, Cora had a good view of how George Springer changed games from the leadoff spot.

"We've been talking about this since November," said Cora. "If you're facing us, you have to execute from pitch one, and that's what I wanted and that's why I mentioned it. That's the first thing that came to mind, you know, the plan that I had, he's going to lead off because I saw it first-hand last year [with George Springer]. I know how it works, and he accepted the challenge and he's doing an outstanding job."

Aside from telling Betts where he would be hitting, Cora also suggested to him how he should hit -- and that's to be more aggressive early in the count.

"I think it was just right after he got hired," said Betts. "I know he made his calls and called everybody, that was one of the first things he said to me. He must really pay attention to detail if it was one of the first things he said," said Betts. "He showed me numbers of my swing percentages and not necessarily scouting reports, but it's just, 'Swing more often.'"

The slam by Betts over the Green Monster in left was a rocket. According to Statcast™, it had an exit velocity of 108.7 mph and traveled a projected distance of 424 feet.

By that point, all of his teammates were caught up in watching his dazzling display of offense.

"It's great. I think he was involved in nine runs, scored five and a grand slam," said winning pitcher Chris Sale. "He just continues to be unbelievable. I think we all knew from the time he stepped into the big leagues that he was going to be pretty special player. He was on tonight."

The grand slam was the third for Betts in his career, and first since 2016. The five runs were a career high.

Betts is the first Red Sox player with at least four hits, four runs and four RBIs vs. the Yankees since RBI became an official statistic in 1920. He is the first Red Sox player to score five times against the Yankees since at least 1908.

"Just trying to do my job, get on base, score some runs," said Betts. "The guys did a great job of manufacturing."

But Betts wasn't part of the manufacturing crew in this one. He simply obliterated the Yankees.

"The good thing with him is his ability to make contact is unreal," Cora said. "It's unreal. And he can do damage when he makes contact. I bring up George a lot, because that's what he did with Houston last year, and that's what I envision with Mookie. He can do the same thing."

Xander optimistic about rehab, Sox's SS options

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- Red Sox shortstop Xander Bogaerts considers himself a fast healer and hopes that will help him get back on the field within the next couple of weeks after he was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a small crack in the talus bone of his left ankle.

The timetable given by the Red Sox on Monday was 10 to 14 days.

"It depends on how my body recovers from it or responds to it," said Bogaerts. "I think my body is normally really good at that, so we'll see how long it takes, and whenever I'm ready, I'll go out there and try to help the team again."

Infielder Tzu-Wei Lin, who was recalled from Triple-A Pawtucket in time for Tuesday's game against the Yankees, will be one of the players manager Alex Cora uses to fill in for Bogaerts.

Brock Holt got the start at short in Tuesday's game. And Eduardo Nunez, who has been playing second base regularly with Dustin Pedroia on the disabled list, could also see some time at short.

Cora plans on making it a committee position for the time being, factoring in matchups as well as defensive alignments when making the decision on a daily basis.

"Between Nunez, Holt and Lin, we'll be fine," said Cora. "They're going to play good defense, and we'll take that on a daily basis, who's going to play short. Obviously Xander is an elite shortstop, I understand that. When he comes back, he comes back. I'm not going to rush him. I'm not going to push him to come sooner rather than later. But we've got to move on. We've got to keep playing."

The injury was sustained when Bogaerts slid into the open stairwell of the third-base dugout on Sunday, attempting to recover an errant throw to prevent a run from scoring.

Prior to the injury, Bogaerts was leading the Red Sox with a .368 average and had a career-best six RBIs, including a grand slam, in Saturday's win vs. the Rays. This is his first stint on the DL since he sustained a concussion in August 2014.

"Being part of this team the way they're playing right now, I think anyone can come in and fill in and do the job," said Bogaerts. "It's just a lot of positive energy here, and I don't want this to be a setback for anyone. It's just the next guy up coming in to do their part."

Cora admits mistake in Sunday's win

Ian Browne

BOSTON -- In a refreshing display of candor, Red Sox manager Alex Cora admitted that he was so caught up in the excitement of Sunday's stirring comeback in the bottom of the eighth that he made a strategical oversight in the ninth inning of an eventual 8-7 win over the Rays.

With a one-run lead, Cora kept J.D. Martinez in the game in left field even though center fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. was not in the starting lineup that day and was available off the bench.

View Full Game Coverage Under normal circumstances, Cora would have put Bradley in to center while shifting Andrew Benintendi to left.

So what happened?

"I'm going to be honest with you, we scored six runs and we were so excited about it and the manager missed that one," said Cora.

In a follow-up question, Cora was asked why he was so honest with the media about the mistake, even though it didn't hurt the Red Sox.

"Because I did [make a mistake]. Why lie? It happens," said Cora. "Everybody saw that. I think I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. So if I am asking them to be that way, I better be that way, because if I say something else, they know I am not telling the truth."

Rehabbing Thornburg bringing the heat

There was some good news on the rehab front. Reliever Tyler Thornburg, who was pitching in an extended spring game in Fort Myers, Fla., on Monday, hit 95 mph on the radar gun.

"That's a good sign," said Cora. "He's still in his progression. Still, the changeup is not there yet, offspeed pitches, but to see his velocity get there, that's' a good sign. He'll be in Fort Myers just with an extended program still throwing his games and then we'll make a decision at the end of the week."

Thornburg had a procedure done last June to repair thoracic outlet syndrome in his right shoulder. He hasn't thrown a pitch for the Red Sox in a regular-season game since being traded to Boston on Dec. 6, 2016.

Johnson or Velazquez on Saturday?

With Drew Pomeranz set to make another rehab start on Friday for Double-A Portland, the Red Sox will start Brian Johnson or Hector Velazquez on Saturday against the Orioles. Both pitchers made starts the first turn through the rotation and have been used out of the bullpen in recent days.

"We'll see how it goes the next few days, see who we use and who we don't use and go from there," said Cora. "We'll probably have to make a decision, especially for that Saturday game for who we're going to start. They're very right-handed, the Yankees. Same with Baltimore. It's going to be one of those that probably tomorrow we'll make a decision who is going to start there and we'll go from there. "

Pedroia plan

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia ran the bases on Tuesday, and he will continue training under the watch of Boston's medical staff for the remainder of this homestand. Next week, when the Red Sox go the West Coast, Pedroia will continue his rehab in Fort Myers.

"If you talk to him, he's going to say he's homeless there [in Fort Myers]," quipped Cora. "We're going to take it easy with him. It's a big step. For him, it'll be better now to go to Fort Myers with the weather and the controlled environment and go from there. You've seen him taking ground balls. He's moving well. I said it two days ago, he's moving better than he moved in October. I'm very happy with the progress."

Will Pedroia play extended spring games as soon as he arrives in Fort Myers?

"No, not quite. Probably track pitches most likely," said Cora. "We don't want him to run the bases yet [in games]. I think as controlled of an environment that we can have for him to at least start getting to baseball activities."

Pedroia underwent a cartilage restoration procedure on his left knee in the offseason. He is expected to be out until at least late May.

*ESPNBoston.com

Mookie Betts' aggressive approach pays dividends in rout of Yankees

Scott Lauber

BOSTON -- If not for intermittent drizzle Tuesday evening, television cameras would've been focused on twin New York Yankees sluggers Aaron Judge and Giancarlo Stanton as they took aim at the Green Monster in batting practice.

Instead, a few hours later, viewers were treated to the Mookie Betts Show.

As the Boston Red Sox renewed their age-old rivalry with the Yankees, Betts put forth a performance for the ages. In a 14-1 Red Sox rout, he punctuated a 4-for-5 night with a grand slam in a nine-run sixth inning. Betts became only the second player ever with at least four hits, five runs and four RBIs in a game against the Yankees, joining Ken Griffey Jr. on May 24, 1996.

"I mean, at this point, it's almost not impressive," Red Sox ace Chris Sale said with a straight face. "No, I'm just kidding. It's great. I think he was involved in nine runs, scored five and a grand slam. He just continues to be unbelievable."

At 9-1, the Red Sox are off to the best start in franchise history. Betts is an enormous reason for that. In 10 games, he is posting video-game numbers: 16-for-37 (.432, which leads the majors), five doubles, two homers, 13 runs, six RBIs, six walks, only three strikeouts, a .533 on-base percentage and a .730 slugging percentage.

It's hardly a surprise that Betts has been Boston's best all-around player. He has owned that distinction for the past three years, including his near-MVP season in 2016.

But Betts is finally emerging as the leading man in the most literal sense. He has taken an offseason challenge from new manager Alex Cora to be a more aggressive hitter out of the leadoff spot rather than focusing so much on taking pitches.

As the Houston Astros' bench coach last season, Cora observed that Betts would take a strike in his first at- bat or two of every game and then "ambush you the third at-bat with a predetermined swing." In his first phone conversation with Betts, Cora said he intended to bat him in the leadoff spot and wanted him to be aggressive from the first pitch.

"I think it was just right after he got hired. That was one of the first things he said to me," Betts said. "He must really pay attention to detail if it was one of the first things he said. He showed me numbers of my swing percentages and not necessarily scouting reports. It's just, swing more often."

On Tuesday night, Betts swung at the second pitch of the game from Yankees ace Luis Severino, stroked it to left-center field for a double and scored two batters later on Hanley Ramirez's single. Betts singled on a 1-2 pitch from Severino in the second inning, drew a walk in the fourth and doubled on a 1-1 pitch from reliever Tommy Kahnle in the sixth. After the Red Sox batted around, Betts got a juicy 2-1 pitch from reliever Chasen Shreve and belted it over the Green Monster.

Five plate appearances. Eighteen pitches. Four hits and a walk.

That's called being aggressive.

"First of all, he's going to make contact. But now he understands he can do damage in the strike zone," Cora said. "He doesn't have to just put the ball in play and get singles. I told him, 'Hey man, there's nothing [wrong] with swinging and missing at pitches. It doesn't matter. It's just a strike.' With his ability, he's going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat.

"You can see he's ready to hit. It's not like he's taking pitches just to take. That's what we call 'bad takes.' He was taking too many pitches right down the middle, and he can do damage with that. I think with what I learned from him last year being on the opposite side and talking to him about the way other teams see him, then he started thinking, 'Well, I can change my approach.'"

Against the Yankees, Betts saw historic results. He became the first player in Red Sox history with at least four hits, four runs and four RBIs out of the leadoff spot. And his grand slam was the first by a Red Sox hitter against the Yankees since Jarrod Saltalamacchia took Preston Claiborne deep on Sept. 13, 2013. The Red Sox won the World Series that season.

Moreover, the Red Sox's nine-run sixth inning was their biggest outburst against the Yankees since May 31, 1998, when they scored 11 runs in the third inning at Yankee Stadium. The Yankees won 114 games and the World Series that season.

This season, Boston and New York are expected to duke it out for the AL East title. While most of the focus has been on the power-packed top of the Yankees' order, it was the Red Sox's 1-2-3 hitters -- Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Ramirez -- who went 8-for-9 with four walks, eight runs scored and nine RBIs.

"[Betts] goes up there with an idea of what he wants to do," Benintendi said. "He doesn't swing at bad pitches. He waits for that pitcher to throw what he wants or makes a mistake. When he does, it's trouble for them."

*WEEI.com

Tomase: Red Sox just kicked the bleep out of the Yankees because they're for real

John Tomase

The Rays and Marlins will spend the season scurrying around the ocean floor in search of algae and the stray Cheeto. Beating those bottom dwellers simply checked the box marked, "Meh."

Yay, Red Sox for taking care of business. Break out the Monty Python pennants, for there was much rejoicing. But true validation required a statement against better competition. Enter the Yankees.

Everyone's consensus pick to win the AL East had stumbled out of the gate, which made the three-game series that kicked off at Fenway Park on Tuesday all the more compelling. Would the 8-1 Red Sox continue their early dominance, or would the 5-5 Yankees train their howitzers on the Mass. Pike and show the upstart hosts who's really boss?

Final score: Red Sox 14, Yankees 1.

Next question.

There are statement wins and then there's what the Red Sox did in the freezing cold on Tuesday night. They didn't just beat the visitors. They pulverized them. They didn't just take Game 1 of 19. They sent a message: We're the two-time defending AL East champs, and we're better than either of those teams. The road to the postseason still goes through us.

"You can go through all the cliches, it's a long season, we've got a lot of games left blah blah blah blah blah, but you see the morale in here," said ace Chris Sale. "You see the energy, the confidence, kind of the easiness, it allows you to go out there and just play. There's no pressing the panic button early. We're just going out there and playing the game and I think we have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in one another."

This was a whupping of the type the pre-2004 Yankees used to routinely put on the Red Sox. Mookie Betts went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and continued to hit everything harder than a Pacific Rim robot swinging a barge. Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez each recorded multiple hits and RBIs. The Red Sox raced to a 4-0 lead and then blew things open with a nine-run sixth.

Even better, Sale made sure the Yankees offense would once again leave the park feeling hangdog. Besides three hits and a meaningless solo homer by Aaron Judge, Sale had his way with the visitors, particularly reigning MVP Giancarlo Stanton.

Stanton missed the first seven fastballs Sale threw him, striking out twice as Red Sox fans celebrated gleefully. Making Stanton's failures even better, his Red Sox counterpart, J.D. Martinez, drove in a pair of runs with a sacrifice fly to the right field fence and a double high off the wall just inches to the left of the home run line in left-center. Stanton righted the ship enough to single and double in his final two at-bats, but he's still only hitting .196, and he still looks tentative.

At some point he'll find his groove and start winning series by himself. Same goes for slumping catcher Gary Sanchez, who took another oh-fer as his average dropped to .056, worst in the majors. The Yankees probably won't be a sub-.500 team for much longer. When they hit their stride, they'll be sprinting in short order.

It might not matter, though, because the Red Sox are very much for real. Their starting pitching remains outstanding and their lineup is coming alive, even with red-hot shortstop Xander Bogaerts on the 10-day disabled list with a broken ankle.

The second week of April generally isn't the time to make grand proclamations about the future, but the 9-1 Red Sox are off to the best start in franchise history, and it wouldn't be the first time we had an inkling this early. Only five years ago, the Red Sox opened the season by punching the Yankees in the face. Jonny Gomes scored from second on an infield single, Jackie Bradley worked a key walk against CC Sabathia, and the Red Sox set a tone with an 8-2 victory that carried right through Koji Uehara's final strike against the Cardinals in October.

"I mean, it's a good start, nine in a row now," Benintendi said. "Hopefully we can keep it going the rest of the season."

Consider the gauntlet thrown. The Red Sox are the hottest team in baseball and their offense hasn't even gotten rolling yet. This could be one hell of a summer.

Chris Sale has a 1.06 ERA through 3 starts and he isn't even at his absolute best

Ryan Hannable

Looking at the stats after his first three starts of the year, Chris Sale has been dynamite.

The left-hander is just 1-0, but has a 1.06 ERA and has struck out 23 batters in 17 innings of work. The numbers suggest he's at his best, but watching him pitch in these games indicates he can be even better.

On Opening Day against the Rays, he was a little erratic and walked three batters. In his next start in Miami his pitch count was driven up so he could only go five innings, and then Tuesday against the Yankees -- a 14-1 Red Sox win -- although he allowed one run over six innings, he still allowed eight hits and wasn't completely dominant.

Even though Sale didn't have his best overall stuff, and the 38-degree temperatures at game time could have played into it, it still was his best performance of the season.

“Excellent," manager Alex Cora said. "Better slider than the first two outings. He was able to work ahead, use the fastball upstairs and mix it in with the slider. That was a good job. He was going to go out for the next inning but then it opened up and it made no sense for us to send him out there.

"Out of the three starts, that was his best one and he’s getting better.”

Sale went six innings, allowed one run on eight hits and struck out eight. It was his 17th start since the start of last season allowing one run or less, which is tied for the most in the American League.

"Felt good tonight," he said. "Helps when they score two touchdowns and kick both field goals, so that's nice."

Sale also admitted he was a bit jacked up to face the Yankees for the first time this season.

"I mean it's hard to say no, honestly," said Sale. "Obviously both of us are really good teams. We've got really good lineups. We're in the same division. Long history together. So yeah there's a little heightened sense, but at the end of the day you're just trying to go out there and do what you always do and not let it overwhelm you."

So while Sale has been excellent to open the season, just watching him pitch it can be seen how he can be even better.

It's also worth noting how relaxed the team has been to open the year and that will not only benefit him, but the entire team.

"I think it's really important," Sale said. "I think you can go through all the cliches, it's a long season, we've got a lot of games left blah blah blah blah blah, but you see the morale in here. You see the energy, the confidence, kind of the easiness, it allows you to go out there and just play. There's no pressing the panic button early. We're just going out there and playing the game and I think we have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in one another.

"And shoot, even the other night. I mean, we're down five runs but there was no panic. There was never any doubt in anyone's mind that we couldn't do what we did, and we ended up winning that game. So I think that just goes to show what kind of guys we have in here and hell of a lineup we have."

Red Sox 14, Yankees 1: Two teams who are off to completely different starts this season

Ryan Hannable

Almost two weeks into the season, the Red Sox and Yankees are going in opposite directions.

Following the Red Sox’ 14-1 win over the Yankees at Fenway Park, they are off to their best start in franchise history at 9-1 and have won nine straight games. On the other hand, the Yankees are 5-6 and have lost four out of their last five games.

"They’ve been in a good space since the first day that we met in Fort Myers," manager Alex Cora said. "We’ve been playing good baseball for a while, regardless if it mattered, it counted, whatever you guys want to call it in Fort Myers. I repeat myself: We were playing fast, we were playing good defense, we were pitching. The only thing we didn’t do the first few games was play fast. We were eratic running the bases, but it’s getting better little by little. But the other two aspects of the game, we’re catching the ball and we’re pitching. And that’s a good sign.”

Tuesday’s game wasn’t a great performance at all by the Yankees. They committed two errors, walked in a run and allowed a grand slam in a nine-run sixth inning. New York did not look sharp at all and appeared to lack focus at some points in the game.

The Red Sox’ stars are off to great starts, while some of the Yankees’ best players are struggling.

Although Giancarlo Stanton went 2-for-4, he still struck out twice. The left fielder is only hitting .196 on the year and has struck out 22 times, which are the most in baseball. Stanton isn’t the worst hitter in the Yankees lineup, either. That belongs to Gary Sanchez, as after an 0-for-4 night, the catcher is now batting just .056 on the year (2-for-36).

This means the Yankees’ No. 3 and 4 hitters are batting a combined .134 on the year.

For the Red Sox, their starters have been outstanding to start the year and Chris Sale continued the trend on Tuesday. The left-hander went six innings, allowing one run on eight hits, not walking a batter and striking out eight. In 17 innings this season he has allowed only two runs.

Red Sox starters are now 6-0 with 1.68 ERA to open the year.

At the plate, the top of the Red Sox order led the way. Lead-off man Mookie Betts paced the offense as he went 4-for-4 with five runs scored and five RBI. The outfielder hit the third grand slam of his career in the sixth inning to blow the game open. He became the first Red Sox player with at least four hits, four runs and four RBI against the Yankees since RBI stat became official in 1920.

"Super fun to be involved in any win," he said. "I just do what I can. Sale did a great job keeping them off the board. The rest of the guys as well. Can’t ask for an easier win."

Betts is now batting .432 to open the season and already has five multi-hit games.

The Red Sox Nos. 1-3 hitters (Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez) went a combined 8-for-9 with nine RBIs.

This was the first of 19 games between the two teams this season, who are 19-19 against one another since 2016, but if the first 12 days of the 2018 season are any indication, the Yankees need to get their act together quickly and the Red Sox don't need to change a thing.

The Red Sox' nine-game win streak is more than any win streak from last season and they haven’t had a longer win streak since winning 11 straight in 2016.

Dustin Pedroia progressing towards return following offseason knee surgery

Ryan Hannable

Even though the second baseman isn't on the field with the rest of his teammates, he's making progress with his rehab.

Speaking before Tuesday's game against the Yankees, manager Alex Cora said Pedroia ran the bases for the first time and will go to Fort Myers next Tuesday after the homestand to rehab in the warmer weather.

"He’s still a work in progress," Cora said. "If you talk to him he’s going to say he’s homeless there. We’re going to take it easy with him. It’s a big step. For him it’ll be better now to go to Fort Myers with the weather and the controlled environment and go from there. You’ve seen him taking groundballs. He’s moving well. I said it two days ago, he’s moving better than he moved in October. I’m very happy with the progress."

Although he will be in Fort Myers, he won't get into extended spring training games right away.

"No, not quite," Cora said. "Probably track pitches most likely. We don't want him to run the bases yet. I think as controlled of an environment that we can have for him to at least start getting to baseball activities."

Of course, Pedroia isn't anywhere close to returning to the major league team, but him returning to Fort Myers seems to be a positive sign in his recovery.

Eduardo Nunez has been getting the majority of the starts at second base in Pedroia's absence.

Bogaerts relieved ankle injury wasn't worse, tries to explain what happened

John Tomase

Xander Bogaerts still doesn't quite know what happened, but it only took a couple of steps to realize it really hurt.

The Red Sox shortstop, off to a blistering start, was placed on the 10-day disabled list Monday with a broken bone in his left ankle. He was injured during Sunday's 8-7 win over the Rays when he slid into the Tampa dugout trying to keep an errant throw from skipping out of play.

"I think we all assume that it happened probably when I was in their dugout," Bogaerts said. "But I mean, I really have no idea how it happened or anything like that."

Bogaerts hopes and expects to heal quickly, though he admitted he still feels a twinge if he walks on his foot incorrectly.

"It depends on how my body recovers from it or responds to it," he said. "I think my body is normally really good at that, so we'll see how long it takes, and whenever I'm ready, I'll go out there and try to help the team again."

The timing isn't great. Bogaerts was off to a torrid start, leading baseball in doubles and extra base hits. Now he'll be sidelined for at least a week and a half.

"That sucks," he said. "But I mean, being part of this team the way they're playing right now, I think anyone can come in and fill in and do the job. It's just a lot of positive energy here and I don't want this to be a setback for anyone. It's just the next guy up coming in to do their part."

So what happened?

"I don't think I remember feeling anything once I got up from the dugout," Bogaerts said. "I mean, adrenaline just going after that ball, that probably had something to do with it. But stepping onto the field, probably my second step, I think, I started feeling it. And then I stepped again and felt it a little more, and then I walked in and said, 'Hey, I don't think I can go much more.'

"I don't think it would've been that severe because I know the amount of pain I was in. I never felt anything pop or anything dislocated or something like that. But I mean, I'm thankful that it wasn't that big of a deal that it could've been. Just got to cheer on the team for a couple days."

Shohei Ohtani has gotten the attention of Red Sox manager Alex Cora

Ryan Hannable

Even though the Red Sox don't play the Angels until the middle of next week, Shohei Ohtani is already on the mind of Red Sox manager Alex Cora.

On the mound, the two-way player is 2-0 with a 2.08 ERA and has struck out 18 batters in 13 innings spanning his two starts, but maybe even more impressive has been his performance at the plate. He is 7-for- 18 (.389) with three home runs and seven RBIs.

"Wow, Ohtani," Cora said prior to Tuesday's game against the Yankees. "Has some power. As you guys know, we did our homework and we made our pitch, but we weren’t the finalists. But, just watching him and watching the videos and all that, he’s a good athlete. Fast and has some pop and that split thing he’s throwing right now, that’s dirty, throwing 100 [mph]. They’ve got a good one and it seems like they’re playing good baseball.

"We see them in a week. We have two more series before that.”

The Red Sox will play the Angels next Tuesday-Thursday in California.

Alex Cora screwed up on Sunday and then did something amazing -- he admitted it

John Tomase

Sunday's 8-7 comeback win over the Rays was notable for a six-run eighth, but also for a curious decision by manager Alex Cora not to replace left fielder J.D. Martinez in the top of the ninth.

It turns out there's a reason for that -- Cora screwed up.

Exhibiting candor not often associated with a big league manager, Cora on Tuesday admitted his mistake.

"Honestly . . . I'm going to be honest with you," Cora said. "We scored six runs and we were so excited about it, and the manager missed that one."

Asked on Tuesday why he admitted messing up, Cora explained his approach.

"Because I did (mess up)!" he said. "Why lie? It happens. Everybody saw it. I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent, and responsible. If I'm asking them to be that way, well I'd better be that way. Because if I say something else, they know I'm not telling the truth."

UPDATE: As long as we're admitting mistakes and being accountable, the original version of this post said Xander Bogaerts was injured in the ninth. He was hurt in the seventh.

*NBC Sports Boston

Return of 2016 Mookie Betts would be Red Sox' greatest gift

Evan Drellich

BOSTON — Before the 2017 season, one general manager wondered whether George Springer would ever compile a season as strong as Mookie Betts' 2016. Springer did it. Now, the comparison runs in the other direction.

"I bring up George a lot because that’s what he did with Houston last year, and that’s what I envision with Mookie,” said Alex Cora, who managed Springer in 2017. “[Betts] can do the same thing.”

Indeed, he already has. But a great season is not a promise of a baseline, or of repeated success. Betts' MVP-caliber performance two years ago could have been a peak. Or, it could have been stepping stone.

After a measly ten games and nine sterling wins for the Red Sox, there’s reason to believe 2016 Betts is back. And that the 2018 version may be even better.

Not all rebound stories are created equal on the Red Sox. A focused and healthy Hanley Ramirez, whose 11 RBIs lead the team, does not compare to Betts’ potential. J.D. Martinez can out-slug anyone on the Sox but doesn’t bring the speed element that Betts does: stretched hits, stolen bags.

If Betts’ 2016 was not his peak, if his runner-up MVP performance is closer to the norm, there’s no one better in Boston. There may be only handful of players better anywhere.

Betts has made an it-just-sounds-so-easy change in his approach by swinging earlier in the count. He’s focused less on working at-bats and more on finding a pitch he can handle best. This is a team wide philosophy, ultimately, led by both Cora and hitting coach Tim Hyers, as well as the analytics folks.

“I think it was just right after he got hired,” Betts said of Cora. “I know he made his calls and called everybody, that was one of the first things he said to me. He must really pay attention to detail if it was one of the first things he said.

“He showed me numbers of my swing percentages and not necessarily scouting reports, it’s just, swing more often.”

By all means.

The 25-year-old went 4-for-4 with a pair of doubles and a grand slam in Tuesday night’s embarrassment of the Yankees, a 14-1 win at Fenway Park. Betts added a walk for good measure and scored a career-high five runs. The last time one Sox player crossed the plate that many times was in 2015, when Jackie Bradley Jr. did it.

“With his ability, he’s going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat,” Cora said. “But you can see he’s ready to hit. It’s not like he’s taking pitches just to take. That’s what we call bad takes. He was taking too many pitches right down the middle [in the past], and he can do damage with that.

“People watch games and you scout hitters and you see video, and from personal experience, last year, he would take the first pitch — or he would take a strike — his first two at-bats, and then he’ll ambush you the third at-bat, a predetermined swing the third at-bat. I mentioned it to him. He was like, ‘Well, yeah, I was doing that.’ I think with what I learned from him last year being on the opposite side, and talking to him and the way other teams see him, then he started thinking, ‘Well, I can change my approach.’ But the good thing with him is his ability to make contact is unreal. It’s unreal. And he can do damage when he makes contact.”

The numbers coming into Tuesday show remarkably rapid improvement. Betts’ contact rate was 96 percent of swings, per FanGraphs, up from 86 a year ago. He swung and missed at just 1 percent of all pitches he saw, down from 5. He’s chasing less, he’s making more contact with strikes.

Swinging early hasn’t led to zone expansion, in part because his plate judgment has always been stellar.

“He’s always been a swing at strikes first, getting his pitch to hit,” Hyers said. “He understands that part. To me, it’s leading him to be more aggressive, encourage him to take a few more gambles early on. It’s worked in his favor so far.

“I give him credit. Remember in spring training? He came out of the chute swinging, making some quick outs. I think that was good for him. He learned maybe how to handle himself, more of getting prepared before the game. There’s a few things he’s been doing kind of getting ready for that first at-bat.”

It feels too simple. Surely Betts is in better health than he was as last year wound down, although he had a very strong and perhaps overlooked September.

Nothing about Betts’ 2018 will be overlooked if we’re looking at a revival of 2016, because there’s no greater development to be had for the Red Sox.

A refreshing change from 2017: Cora admits a mistake

Evan Drellich

BOSTON -- Accountability Alex is in full affect, painting a new image for his club and helping his players as he goes.

The Red Sox manager on Tuesday afternoon acknowledged something the 2017 Red Sox seemingly never did: a mistake. He noted a flat-out lapse in judgment in a particular moment from Sunday's game.

Cora should have pulled J.D. Martinez from left field for a defensive replacement in the ninth inning. Jackie Bradley Jr. was on the bench, the Sox had an 8-7 lead and Craig Kimbrel was on the mound.

But the bottom of the eighth inning was pretty wild as the Sox erased a five-run deficit.

"Honestly -- I'm going to be honest with you," Cora said. "We scored six runs, and we were so excited about it, and the manager missed that one."

Woah. No song and dance? Cora was later asked why he was being so honest.

"Because I did. Why lie, you know?" Cora said. "It happens. Everybody saw it. I think I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. So, if I'm asking them to be that way, well, I better be that way. Because if I say something else, they know I'm not telling the truth."

Refreshing as a sip of Zima. In Game No. 9 as a big-league manager, Cora made a mistake, and he publicly identified it. Heck, has probably made it impossible for Cora to look bad anyway.

Cora said from the outset of his time with the Sox he wasn't going to change his approach, and after 2017, it was clear the Sox needed Cora to follow through to that end.

Whether Cora realizes it or not, there's a ripple effect when he takes the stage as he did Tuesday. He pulled the conversation, and any pressure that comes with being a part of the conversation, away from the players and onto himself. You can call that the Tito Special.

Instead of a discussion with the media about Martinez's subpar play in left field Sunday, as could have cropped up, Cora's pregame session veered toward the skipper. And he steered it there, whether he meant to or not. The manager does not control the questions, but he does seem to understand what the public, the media and the fans, generally want to hear -- and serving it appears a genuine response. And when the media hears something interesting about the manager -- like an admission of fault -- the media typically follows that thread.

PINCH RUN?

There was one other move Sunday that was a little puzzling: Choosing not to pinch run for Christian Vazquez with Blake Swihart in the eighth inning. The latter is certainly faster. Vazquez scored the tying run in the eighth inning on a Mookie Betts single as the Sox stormed back, but a better throw home probably nails Vazquez.

"He's one of our best base runners out there," Cora said. "He's not the fastest one, but his secondaries are a lot better than a lot of guys that we have and he has a sense of the game. Where they were in the outfield, that was probably, you know, I don't think there was going to be a play. With two outs and you go with the swing, he was going to get a good jump and score."

Speed is still what matters most, so Cora's explanation may have been missing a piece. Did Cora feel comfortable with Swihart catching in the ninth inning, or would he have had to then turn to Sandy Leon and leave no on the bench? That's unclear. But, unlike the choice to leave Martinez in the outfield, leaving Vazquez in was by design.

* NESN.com

Red Sox Notes: How Alex Cora Changed Mookie Betts’ Hitting Approach

Adam London

BOSTON — Mookie Betts isn’t a conventional leadoff hitter.

While Betts reaches base at a high rate, his power and contact ability presents a major challenge to opposing pitchers from the get-go. This much was clear in the Boston Red Sox’s 14-1 win over the New York Yankees on Tuesday at Fenway Park.

Betts led off the game with a ringing two-bagger, the first of his two doubles on the game. The right fielder also singled, drew a walk and most notably, clobbered a grand slam as part of his 4-for-4 night at the dish.

It’s not a total shocker Betts is experiencing so much success in his first season with Alex Cora. The new Red Sox manager understands all that Betts can bring to the table, and he stresses to the 25-year-old to not be fearful of mistakes while he’s in the box.

“A slugger leading off,” Cora said of Betts. “First of all, he’s gonna make contact. Now he understands that he can do damage in the strike zone. He’s just going to have to put the ball in play. I know that he’s not swinging and missing, but I told him that there’s nothing wrong with swinging and missing at pitches. Doesn’t matter. Go for it. With his ability, he’s going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat. You can see he’s ready to hit.”

Betts’ new approach is something that’s been in the works for nearly six months. After the win over the Yankees, Betts acknowledged that back in October, Cora showed him numbers on his swing percentages and urged the right fielder to “swing more often.”

Well, Betts has been swinging alright, and he continues to be a sparkplug for a Red Sox team that’s rattled off nine straight wins.

Here are some other notes from Red Sox-Yankees:

— Boston became just the third American League team in the last 15 seasons to win nine of its first 10 games.

— Chris Sale picked up his first win of the season, tossing six innings while allowing one run on eight hits with eight strikeouts. The left-hander has allowed one run or less in each of his three starts on the year.

— Hanley Ramirez went 2-for-2 with two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly. The veteran slugger has recorded multiple hits in six of his last eight games.

— Andrew Benintendi smacked a two-run triple as part of a 2-for-3 night at the plate. He’s driven in nine runs in 17 career plate appearances against Luis Severino, the most any hitter has collected against the Yankees ace in his career.

— Cora is the second manager in Red Sox history to win at least nine of his first 10 games.

Red Sox Wrap: Boston’s Offense Comes Alive In 14-1 Rout Of Yankees

Adam London

BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox just keep on winning.

The Red Sox recorded their ninth straight victory Tuesday night at Fenway Park: a 14-1 shellacking of the rival New York Yankees in the opener of the first series of the season between the American League East foes.

Chris Sale picked up his first win of the campaign with the help of substantial run support, as Boston nearly doubled its highest run total of the season entering the game against New York.

With the win, the Red Sox improve to 9-1, while the Yankees fall to 5-6.

Here’s how it all went down:

GAME IN A WORD

Dominant. The Red Sox led from wire to wire in this one, as the Yankees seemingly never posed a threat of making a comeback.

ON THE BUMP

— Sale wasn’t particularly sharp, but the ace did what he needed to do to prevent the Yankees from doing major damage to the scoreboard.

The left-hander, as usual, had his strikeout pitch working early on, as he punched out seven batters through four innings while scattering five hits over that span. It wasn’t until the fifth frame that New York finally got on the board, as Aaron Judge (3-for-4) pummeled a solo shot to straightaway center field.

Sale responded with a clean sixth inning, but that would be all for the southpaw. He allowed just the one run on eight hits while striking out eight in his third start of the season.

— Joe Kelly allowed one hit in a scoreless seventh inning.

— Brian Johnson allowed a leadoff double to Giancarlo Stanton in the eighth but managed to make it out of the inning unscathed. The left-hander stayed on for the ninth and locked down the win with a scoreless frame.

IN THE BATTER’S BOX

— Mookie Betts was the offensive star for Boston on Tuesday. The right fielder went 4-for-4 with a colossal grand slam, two doubles, a single and a walk. He scored each of the five times he reached base.

— Andrew Benintendi had a productive night at the plate for the Red Sox. The 23-year-old outfielder went 2-for-3 with a two-RBI triple in the second inning, a double in the fourth and two walks.

— Hanley Ramirez continued his torrid start to the season with a 2-for-2 night at the dish, notching RBI singles in each of the first two innings and a sacrifice fly in the fourth.

— After a frustrating first three at-bats, J.D. Martinez finally broke through in the sixth, crushing a two-run double that wasn’t far from being a grand slam.

— Christian Vazquez and Jackie Bradley Jr. both recorded singles.

— Rafael Devers didn’t record a hit, but he accounted for a sacrifice fly in the sixth inning.

— Eduardo Nunez and Brock Holt also went hitless, as did Blake Swihart and Tzu-Wei Lin, who entered the game in the seventh inning as defensive substitutions.

UP NEXT

The Red Sox and Yankees will play the middle game of their three-game set Wednesday night. David Price is scheduled to take the mound for Boston and will be opposed by Masahiro Tanaka. First pitch from Fenway Park is set for 7:10 p.m. ET.

*Bostonsportsjournal.com

BSJ Game Report: Red Sox 14, Yankees 1 – Mookie leads onslaught

Sean McAdam

HEADLINES

Red Sox bust out offensively: The Red Sox scored a season-high 14 runs on 11 hits, with almost all of the offense generated from the top portion of the lineup. Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez combined to go 8-for-9 with eight runs scored, four walks, and nine RBI. The 14 runs were more than the total from the first four Red Sox victories of the season. They’ve now scored eight or more runs in each of their last three games.

Sales cruises in first home start: Starter Chris Sale, who hadn’t gotten much run support in his first two outings — a total of five runs in his 11 innings in Tampa and Miami — got a run in the first and three more in the second. That allowed him to fill up the strike zone from the early going, and be in attack mode. “That’s the biggest key — (a big lead) allows you to just go out and throw strikes,” said Sale. “You’re not too worried about making mistakes.” His lone mistake was a pitch that Aaron Judge demolished, crushing a pitch into the upper reaches of the center field bleachers, measured at 444 feet. But Sale allowed only one other Yankee baserunner into scoring position in his six innings to pick up his first win of the season.

The Sox got into the Yankees bullpen early: Starter Luis Severino wasn’t sharp, allowing four runs in the first two frames and his pitch count was at 59 by then. He settled down some and became more efficient over the next three, needing just 36 pitches over the next three. That will help some, but the mere fact that the Yanks had to get to their bullpen for the sixth could play a factor as the series goes along.

SECOND GUESS

All spring, the Red Sox have stressed the importance of preserving their pitchers, and in particular, Sale. He was at 87 pitches through five innings and the Sox held a 5-1 lead, but as the top of the sixth inning began, the Red Sox didn’t have anyone warming in the bullpen. Given the lead and the temperature — 38 at game time — this would have seemed to be an opportune time to hook Sale early and give him the rest of the night off — even though he was pitching on six days’ rest. Eventually, as the Red Sox piled on and scored nine runs, Alex Cora wisely got somebody up and went to Joe Kelly for the top of the next inning. But the very fact that he was apparently planning to bring Sale back until the inning got stretched out is puzzling.

TWO UP

Andrew Benintendi: Benintendi had just one extra-base hit and two RBI entering the game. By the end of Tuesday night, he had a double, triple and two RBI — evidence that he’s finally coming around at the plate after a pretty unproductive first week-and-a-half with the bat.

Mookie Betts: Betts had a career-high five runs scored and came up a triple shy of the cycle with four hits, a walk and a grand slam, good for four RBI. Over the last two games, he’s been on base eight times from the leadoff spot.

ONE DOWN

Joe Kelly: With a 13-run lead, Kelly somehow managed to go to three-ball counts to each of the first two hitters he faced in the top of the seventh. Given that big a cushion, any reliever’s job is to throw strikes and get off the field, but again, Kelly either nibbled or couldn’t command his fastball and needed 18 pitches to get out of the inning.

QUOTE OF NOTE

“I mean, at this point, it’s almost not impressive … No, I’m just kidding.”

— Sale on Betts.

BY THE NUMBERS

The Red Sox are just the third American League team in the last 15 seasons to win nine of their first 10 games. This is Boston’s second-longest April winning streak in the last 10 years. The Sox are hitting .320 (32-for-100) with a runner in scoring position this season. UP NEXT

The Red Sox and Yankees play the middle game of the series Wednesday with David Price (1-0, 0.00) vs. Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 2.92).

McAdam: Urged to swing away, Mookie Betts powering Sox from top spot

Sean McAdam

Like virtually everything else associated with the game of baseball in 2018, the role of the leadoff hitter is undergoing a reimagining.

Gone are the patient hitters who work walks and whose sole purpose is to get on base. In their place: athletic hitters with power, and the freedom to swing as they see fit.

In the dugout of the world champion Houston Astros, bench coach Alex Cora saw that concept personified in outfielder George Springer. And immediately after being hired as the Red Sox manager last November, Cora began to think of Mookie Betts the same way.

Betts had been the Red Sox leadoff hitter, off-and-on, for part of the previous two seasons. But Cora saw some similarities between what Springer brought to the role and what Betts had the potential to bring.

When manager and outfielder talked last November, Cora told Betts he envisioned him bringing “instant offense” to the top of the Red Sox lineup. And, 10 games into the season, Betts has provided.

That was on full display at Fenway Tuesday night as Betts offered a little bit of everything from the top spot. Yes, there was the critical on-base component: reaching base in all five plate appearances. There were runs scored, the ultimate box to be checked, with a career-high five. And even, for the traditionalists, some patience in the form of a fourth-inning walk.

But there was also muscle: a first-inning double to center to start. It marked the third-straight game Betts doubled to lead off the home half of the first, then came around to score. That’s the perfect embodiment of Cora’s fantasy of “instant offense” — just add Mookie.

Then, in the sixth, came another double — this one to left — and, after the Red Sox batted around, a grand slam which put the finishing touches on a nine-run sixth and a 14-1 walloping of the New York Yankees.

“First of all, he’s going to make contact,” said Cora. “But now, he understands that he can do damage in the strike zone. He doesn’t have to just put the ball in play and get singles. I know he’s not swinging and missing, but I told him, ‘Hey man, there’s nothing wrong with swinging and missing at pitches. It doesn’t matter — go for it.’ There was a 2-and-0 count (tonight) and he took a big hack and he swung and missed. It’s just a strike. With his ability, he’s going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat.

“You can see, he’s ready to hit, it’s not like he’s just taking pitches just to take. He was taking too many pitches right down the middle. He can do damage with those. I think that first swing of the season (at Tropicana Field, when Rays outfielder Kevin Kiermaier robbed him of a homer) let everybody know that he’s ready to hit from the get-go.”

Watching from the opposing dugout last season, Cora noticed a tendency on the part of Betts to automatically take the first pitch — whether it was a ball or strike — before turning more aggressive in his third at-bat. So Cora issued a challenge: use that same aggressiveness in all of your at-bats.

As usual, Cora had the numbers to back up his case. He showed Betts what he could achieve by swinging at hittable pitches, regardless of the count. He had faith that Betts could make the adjustment.

“His ability to make contact,” gushed Cora, “is unreal.”

Sure enough, Betts isn’t being cheated with his new approach. After utilizing the Grapefruit League schedule to hone his more aggressive approach, the results are showing: since April 1, he’s hitting a blistering .538 (14-for-26) with four doubles, two homers, six RBI and five runs scored.

“It’s been an easy adjustment,” shrugged Betts. “It’s pretty much just ‘swing more.’ So when I’m in the box, that’s kind of what I’m thinking, just get some good swings off and see what happens.”

What’s happening is a Red Sox lineup that is only now hitting its stride — 32 runs scored in the last three games — is being paced by a newly aggressive leadoff hitter freed from convention.

Final: Red Sox 14, Yankees 1

Sean McAdam

Never mind the better competition – the red-hot Red Sox kept rolling Tuesday, winning their ninth straight while administering a beating to their rivals, the New York Yankees, with a 14-1 victory. The Sox were already comfortably ahead 5-1 when they posted a nine-run inning in the sixth against the New York bullpen, somewhat aided by an error from third baseman Miguel Andujar, resulting in six unearned runs. Mookie Betts capped a 4-for-4 night that inning with a grand slam, the second for the Sox in the last three games after going all of last year without one. The top three hitters in the lineup combined for eight hits, eight runs and nine RBI. Chris Sale picked up his first win of the season with six innings, during which the only run off him was a titanic homer into the center field bleachers by Aaron Judge. Sale didn’t walk a batter and struck out eight.

WHO: Red Sox vs. Yankees WHEN: 7:10 p.m. WHERE: Fenway Park TV/RADIO: NESN/WEEI 93.7 FM STARTING PITCHERS: LHP Chris Sale (0-0, 0.82) vs. RHP Luis Severino (2-0, 1.38) WHAT’S UP: This is the first meeting of the year between the clubs. The Sox bring an eight-game winning streak into the opener and have the best record in the American League. Their 8-1 record represents the best start in franchise history. This will be the Sox’ best test to date, having fattened up on a steady diet of the Rays and Marlins. The Yankees (5-5) are in third place, 3.5 games behind the first-place Sox. The rivals will square up 19 times over the course of the season. Last year, the Yankees won the season series 11-8. This season also marks the first time since 1992 that both the Red Sox and Yankees have first-year managers at the same time.

IN-GAME OBSERVATIONS:

9:34: Quite the night for Mookie Betts: two doubles, a single, a walk and a grand slam with five runs scored (a career best) and four RBI.

9:20: The first three hitters in the Sox lineup — Betts, Benintendi and Hanley — are a combined 7-for-7 with four wakls, seven runs scored and five RBI tonight.

9:03 Sale at 87 pitches after six. Given the score and temperature, I’m guessing that might be it.

8:46: It may take a while before anyone hits a ball that far and that hard. Aaron Judge got ahold of a 93 mph and crushed it into the CF bleachers, measured at 444 feet with an exit velo of 114 mph

8:34: Benintendi continues to have good at-bats tonight. After pulling a ball into the right field corner for a triple in his second at-bats, he takes a pitch the other way and swats it off the wall for a double.

8:07: Aaron Judge, who came into the game hitless in his career against Sale, has two singles in two trips. But it’s not begun well for Giancarlo Stanton, who has never faced him until tonight. Two at-bats, and two strikeouts, with three baserunners left.

7:56: That’s the best swing J.D. Martinez has taken in a while – driving a 98 mph four-seamer the other way, to the warning track in right where Aaron Judge made the catch a few feet in front of the visitor’s bullpen.

7:50: Andrew Bennintendi, with just his second extra-base hit of the season, turns on a slider down in the zone and ropes it into the right field corner. Sox lead 3-0.

7:42: Yankees are being aggressive early in the count with Chris Sale, but it’s not doing them much good. He’s stayed out of the middle of the plate and induced some weak contact.

7:32: Red Sox let Severino off the hook. Boston had the bases loaded with one out, but Eduardo Nunez popped out to first and Jackie Bradley Jr. fanned, leaving three baserunners on.

7:20: Good at-bat by Hanley Ramirez who stayed on a slider from Luis Severino and drove it up the middle to score Mookie Betts from second. That’s nine RBI in 10 games for Ramirez.

RED SOX

Betts RF Benintendi LF Ramirez 1B Martinez DH Devers 3B Nunez 2B Bradley CF Vazquez C Holt SS

YANKEES

Walker 2B Judge RF Stanton LF Sanchez DH Gregorius SS Austin 1B Andujar 3B Romine C Robinson CF

NEWS AND NOTES:

Xander Bogaerts, on the DL with a small fracture in his talus bone in his left ankle and is still unsure exactly how it happened. The injury took place as Bogaerts was scurrying after a ball headed for the visitor’s dugout. He went into a slide, but didn’t jam the ankle. And yet, he experienced some pain when he tried to get up. “I think,” said Bogaerts, “we all assume it happened when I was in their dugout. But I have no idea how it happened or anything like that.” Bogaerts is unsure when he’ll return, but said typically he’s a quick healer. “I am (in some pain) right now, walking-wise,” he said. “It’s getting better as these couple of days have passed and that’s obviously a huge plus. We’ll just continue with the training staff and try to get it better.” Bogaerts, who was off to a great start, doesn’t want his absence to take away from how well the team is playing. “It’s just ‘next guy up’ can come in and do their part,” he said. Alex Cora said he will use a combination of Eduardo Nunez, Brock Holt and Tzu-Wei Lin to cover shortstop as Bogaerts recovers. “We’re going to be fine,” assured Cora. “We’ll take it on a daily basis. We’re not worried about that. As a group, with the (analytics) information being provided and putting guys in place, they’re going to make plays. Obviously, Xander’s an elite shortstop, but we’re not going to push him. Hopefully he recovers sooner rather than later. But we’re going to move on, we have to keep playing. For the period of time that he’s away, we’re going to be comfortable with whoever is playing short.” Cora fessed up to a managerial blunder from Sunday. With the Sox leading Tampa 8-7 in the ninth inning, he should have replaced J.D. Martinez in left field for defensive purposes. “I’m going to be honest with you,” said Cora with a sheepish grin. “We scored six runs (in the eighth) and we were so excited about it, the manager missed that one.” Cora was later asked why he was so candid about his flub. “Why lie? It happens. Everybody saw it. I ask our guys to be genuine, transparent and responsible. So, if I’m asking them to be that way, well, I better be that way. Because if I say something else, they know I’m telling the truth.” Cora said that there could be instances when Lin could take over for either Nunez or Holt late in games when the Sox have the lead. “Depending on where we’re at, the score…that’s something (we’ll probably do),” he said. “I told you guys, I feel like he could play shortstop, defensively, for a championship-caliber team. He’s that good. I know we had a good one (in Deven Marrero, traded to Arizona because he was out of option) and we did what we did. But we’re very comfortable with (Lin) late in games. It all depends on where we are in the game. ” Dustin Pedroia ran the bases prior to the game and will travel to Fort Myers to take part in extended spring training. “If you talk to him, he’s almost there,” cracked Cora. “But we’re going to take it easy with him. It’s a good step, but it will be better for him to go to Fort Myers with the weather and the controlled environment.” Drew Pomeranz will start Friday for Portland with the hope that his command will improve. He walked six while pitching for Pawtucket over the weekend. Tyler Thornburg remains in Fort Myers, and according to Cora, hit 95 mph Monday. “But he’s still on his (throwing) progression,” said Cora. “The changeup isn’t there yet or the off-speed pitches. But to see his velocity get there, that’s a good sign. He’ll be in Fort Myers with the extended program and we’ll make a decision probably at the end of the week.” For now, LHP Brian Johnson and RHP Hector Velazquez remain available in the bullpen, but one will be needed Saturday to start against the Orioles. “We’ll see how it goes the next few days and who we use or don’t use and we’ll go from there,” offered Cora. “We’ll probably have to make a decision (Wednesday).”

*The Athletic

Kory: Yankees had the right plan to counter Chris Sale; he just overcame it

Matthew Kory

As it turned out the Red Sox didn’t need Chris Sale Tuesday night. The offense showed up against Yankees pitching in a way they hadn’t yet this season. I checked and a nine-run sixth inning against relievers Tommy Kahnle and Chasen Shreve highlighted by a Mookie Betts grand slam — that if it hadn’t gone over the Monster would have gone through it — counts as showing up.

Even so, Tuesday night’s game was a good measuring stick for Sale. Facing the Yankees — who carry the big stage around with them, like a group of the most well-paid carnies you’ve ever seen — always is. Not to be forgotten, they are a good hitting team, and as such, they present a challenge to any pitcher. Perhaps most interestingly though, last night the Yankees featured an extremely right-handed hitting team.

There isn’t any real way to reliably beat Chris Sale, what with him being Chris Sale and all, but, short of topping off his pre-game Gatorade with laxatives, stacking a lineup with right-handed hitters might be about the best an opposing manager can do. Fortunately for Sale’s gastrointestinal tract, that’s the strategy Yankees manager Aaron Boone went with. Eight of the nine Yankees in Boone’s lineup hit right-handed against Sale with shortstop Didi Gregorius the only exception.

In his career, Sale is quite good against hitters from both sides, but he’s especially effective against lefties. His almost side-armed delivery from the left side makes it easy to see why. The front foot of any left handed hitter tasked with facing Sale might find itself sneaking out of the batters box and into the dugout as soon as Sale’s left arm swung around to start his delivery. Once released, it looks like the ball is starting out from behind the hitter and coming right at him. Perhaps that helps explain why left-handed hitters strike out 31 percent of the time against Chris Sale over the course of his career. For context, Aroldis Chapman struck out 33 percent of the hitters he faced last season.

In contrast, lefties hit for virtually no power against Sale. In 274-2/3 total innings pitched (1085 batters faced) against lefties, Sale has given up 11 homers and a slugging percentage of .272. Against right-handed hitters, that slugging percentage jumps to .370. Sale has thrown to about four times as many right handed hitters in his career and he’s given up 11 times as many home runs. Your chances aren’t great against Sale, but they’re markedly better if you stand in against him as a right-handed hitter. The Yankees' Aaron Boone might not be an experienced manager, but at least he has figured out how to look at splits data on Baseball Reference,.

Once the game started, Sale had trouble commanding and controlling his pitches. It was particularly cold (in the mid-30s at game time) so that might have played some role. Regardless, he missed location on four of five pitches to Neil Walker to lead off the game, and missed badly on an opening fastball to Aaron Judge, who took it for a strike. Sale couldn’t throw his slider at first either, missing the plate by feet on his first two tries and then handing Judge a hanger when he finally got it near the plate. Judge lined it into left field for a single, a result that easily could have been worse for Sale. This was not a good start.

Then came Giancarlo Stanton. Perhaps it was the lousy sliders he had thrown to Judge or perhaps it was the scouting report, but Sale went right after Stanton with three straight fastballs. The first was up and away but caught the corner for strike one. Then Stanton swung through two fastballs, the first at the top of the zone the second above it. After that, Sale kept to the fastballs and away from the slider and got Sanchez to ground out to third.

In the third inning Sale faced the heart of the Yankees lineup again. He started Judge off with a changeup which he swung over for strike one. Then Sale tried to sneak a fastball by Judge but he lined it into center field for his second single of the day. This, combined with a Neil Walker infield single put two Yankees on base and brought about perhaps the biggest at-bat of the day. With the Red Sox up 4-0, one out and runners on first and second, Stanton faced Sale for the second time. Sale went right back to the fastball, feeding Stanton four straight. One in the zone for a swing and miss, two for foul balls, then another above the zone for a swing and miss to end things. It seems the book is out on Stanton. Go to the fastball and use it over and over, higher and higher. Even in Stanton’s lone at-bat that resulted in a hit, a single in the fifth, Sale never threw him anything other than a fastball. It will be interesting to see if David Price follows that playbook when he faces Stanton and the Yankees today.

For the most part, Stanton’s second strikeout concluded the competitive portion of the game. Judge took Sale deep — way deep in fact — on a badly located fastball to make it 5-1 in the fifth, but Sale got Sanchez to pop out after a Stanton single momentarily raised Yankee hopes. In all Sale got 21 misses out of 52 swings. Put another way, when the Yankees swung, they missed 40 percent of the time. That’s a lot, and remember, most of the hitters had the platoon advantage over Sale.

It's worth pointing out Sale’s ability to adjust in real time, as well. He lacked feel and command of his slider in the first inning so he abandoned the pitch until late in the second and even then he used it more sparingly than usual. He picked up the slack with his changeup though, which used to get eight swing and misses out of the 20 times he threw it. It’s still early in the season but coming into Tuesday’s game the Yankees had been above average against changeups as a team, a fact which speaks to the quality of Sale’s offering. When Sale gets his slider going the combination of that with his fastball and the changeup we saw on Tuesday will be fun to watch, especially as the weather warms.

Nobody was worried about Sale before this game and nobody should be worried about Sale now either. The cold was an obstacle and so was the severe right-handedness of the Yankees lineup, but Sale overcame those thanks to his changeup and some gutsy fastball usage. For anyone worried about Sale’s slider though, it’s in there. For proof, I leave you with video of this one that he threw to Gary Sanchez, as well as these words: Good gosh.

McCaffrey: Maybe it's 'only a good start,' but Red Sox are earning respect

Jen McCaffrey

A postseason-like anticipation lingered on Tuesday night before first pitch. It was game one of the 2018 Red Sox-Yankees series and the weather added to the October feel, as did Chris Sale’s firepower from the mound. The deafening cheers after consecutive strikeouts by Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton only fueled the early excitement.

Though the Red Sox-Yankees cat-and-mouse game has been less dramatic in recent years as parity has crept into the division, there’s a good sense this season will be a two-team race for the East. The offseason bolstering of each club and new management in the respective dugouts has created a fresh chapter in the teams’ storied history.

Round one didn’t quite match the hype with Boston clobbering New York 14-1 in front of a not-quite capacity crowd of 32,357 on a chilly, midweek night.

Mookie Betts’ grand slam and 4-for-4 night highlighted an 8-for-9 effort from the first three starters in Boston’s lineup as the Red Sox beat up on the Yankees.

“Wins are wins, but it feels much better against the Yankees because of a lot of chatter, [that] we haven’t played good teams yet,” Xander Bogaerts said.

Added Brock Holt, “I think the storyline has made it a little bit more, I guess you could say, energetic. You could feel it a little bit.”

The commanding win made it nine in a row for the Red Sox, the club’s longest winning streak since an 11- game stretch in September 2016.

But the fact that this streak comes at the start of the season makes this a little different.

The Red Sox entered the night already owning the best start in franchise history. They ended the night at 9- 1, tied for the top record in baseball with the Mets.

Since the expansion to a 162-game schedule in 1961-1962 (the NL transitioned to 162 games a year after the AL), only 27 teams have started the season at 9-1 or better (including this year's two entries).

Of the previous 25, seven advanced to the World Series and five won the championship. However, a team with a start of 9-1 or better hasn’t won the World Series since the 1992 Blue Jays.

It's been a tough transition for some of the teams with these hot starts in the past decade. Of the six who've won at least nine of the first 10 since 2009, three didn’t even make the postseason (’09 Marlins, ’12 Dodgers, ’15 Tigers); two teams lost in the league championship series (’16 Nationals, ’13 Braves); and one lost in the World Series (’11 Texas).

That 2015 Tigers team that started so hot was led by current Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski. At the deadline that summer, Detroit had fallen to 50-53 and Dombrowski traded his ace David Price to Toronto to begin a rebuild. (Days later the Tigers would part ways with Dombrowski, who would soon land in Boston and, of course, sign Price as a free agent with the Red Sox later that year.)

Regardless of what early wins indicate for a team’s long-term success, these victories are certain to create a buzz around a Red Sox team that had been tagged as “unlikeable” last season. The more wins Boston produces like Tuesday’s pummeling of New York, the better.

“There [are] certain series that get you going, but I don’t know,” manager Alex Cora said. “It’s still early. It’s still early in the season. It’s only a good start.”

The Red Sox have had success from the get-go, leaving spring training with the best record (22-9) in baseball. But playing the first nine games against weak opponents in Tampa and Miami, made it seem like Boston hadn’t been tested yet.

“They’ve been in a good space since the first day that we met in Fort Myers,” Cora said. “We’ve been playing good baseball for a while, regardless if it mattered, it counted, whatever you guys want to call it in Fort Myers.”

New York arrived Tuesday. That game count counted and Boston passed the first big test.

Jennings: Mookie Betts is executing Red Sox' leadoff plan perfectly

Chad Jennings

When he sits in a Red Sox uniform, behind a Red Sox microphone, in front of a Red Sox background, Alex Cora nearly winces every time he mentions the Astros.

It’s not a look of pain or discomfort — those aren’t bad memories of last year — but Cora clearly wants to be in the present. He wants to talk about this team and these players. There’s so much to do, why focus on things already done?

Every once in a while, though, the connection is too real and too obvious, and Cora can’t help himself if he tries. And he’s tried.

Mookie Betts in the leadoff spot is one of those connections.

“He can do damage when he makes contact,” Cora said. “I bring up George (Springer) a lot because that’s what he did with Houston last year, and that’s what I envision with Mookie. He can do the same thing.”

Tuesday night was the perfect example. Four hits, one walk, five runs, two doubles and a grand slam in a 14-1 thrashing of the Yankees.

It was Betts’ 10th career game with three extra-base hits, and the third game in a row in which he doubled to lead off the home half of the first inning. The first strike he saw was 97 mph in the middle of the plate, and he smoked it to center field.

He did basically the same thing on Opening Day, hitting a rocket 105-mph off the bat on the very first pitch of the Red Sox season. It traveled 408 feet and was caught only because they were playing in Tampa where Kevin Kiemaier plays center.

“I think that first swing of the season let everyone know that he’s ready to hit from the get-go,” Cora said.

And that was the point of putting Betts in the leadoff spot. Sure, he’d hit there before, but Cora stressed that he didn’t want Betts trying to work the count to get on base like a stereotypical leadoff man. Cora wanted Betts to hit. He wanted him to swing. He wanted him to be a middle-of-the-order run producer who just happened to get the first at-bat of the game.

Springer did that for the Astros last season and hit 34 home runs on his way to a Silver Slugger award, then he hit five more home runs on his way to World Series MVP honors. Cora was hired during the Astros playoff run, and he was introduced just days after the World Series. Springer was fresh in his mind, and – it turns out – so was Betts.

“If you’re facing us, you have to execute from Pitch One and that’s what I wanted,” Cora said. “And that’s why I mentioned it. That’s the first thing that came to mind, you know, the plan that I had. He’s going to lead off because I saw it first-hand last year. I know how it works, and he accepted the challenge, and he’s doing an outstanding job.”

Cora contacted Betts early in the offseason and, again, his words drifted back to Houston. He told Betts that the Astros had a scouting report on him. Betts had a tendency to take the first pitch in his first two at-bats, then he’d swing away in the third at-bat.

They call that first-pitch aggression an “ambush,” and it works best with an element of surprise. Betts was perhaps too predictable. Cora wanted him to be ready to ambush at any moment, starting with the first at- bat.

“That was one of the first things he said to me,” Betts said. “He must really pay attention to detail if it was one of the first things he said. … He showed me numbers of my swing percentages and not necessarily scouting reports. It’s just swing more often.”

Not the typical instruction for a leadoff hitter, but Betts got the message. In his five plate appearances on Tuesday, he saw 18 pitches and took only two strikes. One of those was a well-spotted fastball on the edge. He also never swung at the first pitch. He was aggressive, but selective.

“I think it’s an easy adjustment,” Betts said. “Pretty much just swing more. That’s kind of been when I’m in the box what I’m kind of thinking. Just get some good swings off and see what happens.”

What’s happened is that Betts is hitting .432 with a .533 on-base percentage and a .730 slugging percentage. He’s hit two home runs and five doubles. Cora has told him it’s OK to swing and miss a little more, especially ahead in the count. Try to drive the ball, and if it’s a swinging strike, so be it.

“With his ability, he’s going to put the ball in play later on in the at-bat,” Cora said. “… The good thing with him is, his ability to make contact is unreal It’s unreal.”

Betts can stay selective, make contact, and drive the ball for extra bases. The way Cora sees it, that’s an ideal leadoff hitter for this team or any other.

Jennings: Xander Bogaerts injury leaves Red Sox infield in far from ideal situation

Chad Jennings

In the five and a half years since Brock Holt arrived in the big leagues, he’s played an entire game at shortstop – from the first out, to the last – just 18 times, and a third of those came during a one-week stretch in 2014 when Xander Bogaerts had a concussion and the Red Sox’ next-best option was a guy named Carlos Rivero, who was on the bench for his one and only cup of coffee in the big leagues.

Holt did not play a major-league inning at shortstop last season, he started just four games at the position in 2016, and the last time shortstop was his primary position was with Double-A Altoona in 2012. That's when Baseball America wrote that Holt’s “range and arm are a bit light for him to be a regular shortstop in the major leagues, though he compensates with a quick first step and a fast release on his throws.”

All of that is to say, starting Holt at shortstop for Tuesday’s much-anticipated series opener against the Yankees was not an optimal situation for the Red Sox.

The team itself surely would not disagree.

The team would also point out, what difference did it make in a 14-1 blowout?

The Red Sox' optimal solution had hobbled off the field two days earlier with a small fracture in the talus bone of his left ankle, leaving the Red Sox to weather the storm of one of their most obvious vulnerabilities: a lack of infield depth.

On Tuesday, they weathered that storm quite nicely.

“We're deep enough,” manager Alex Cora said, “that for the period of time that (Bogaerts) is going to be away, we're going to be comfortable with whoever's playing short.”

Bogaerts hurt himself sliding into the visiting dugout on Sunday. He has no idea how exactly it happened – did he land awkwardly on the step, were the mechanics of the slide a little off? – but he needed a walking boot for two days. He’s now walking without the boot, but there’s still lingering pain. The Red Sox’ official timeline for his return is 10 to 14 days.

“I never felt anything pop or anything dislocated or something like that,” Bogaerts said. “But, I mean, I'm thankful that it wasn't that big of a deal that it could've been. Just got to cheer on the team for a couple days.”

The Red Sox brought utility man Tzu-Wei Lin up from the minors, but that’s exhausted their readily available depth. Triple-A first baseman Sam Travis is their only 40-man position player who’s not with the big league team. If they have to dig any deeper, 30-year-old Ivan De Jesus – who has some big league time and signed a minor league deal this winter – likely would be the next in line.

For now, they’re simply trying to make due.

A rival talent evaluator said he sees Holt as a shortstop only in a pinch, and only for a short period of time, which is exactly how the Red Sox plan to use him. They’re in pinch, and Holt won’t necessarily play the position every day.

Lin and second baseman Eduardo Nunez can also play short, and Cora said it will be a daily decision which starts at the position. Lin is the best defender of the bunch and could be a late-inning replacement, as he was on Tuesday.

“As a group, with the (analytical) information that's been provided, we're putting guys in spots where they're going to make plays,” Cora said. “And they will make plays.”

Holt made the play at shortstop that ended Sunday’s comeback, and the Red Sox played him at short during spring training, telegraphing an intention to use him at the position at least occasionally this season.

The Red Sox have been short-handed in the infield since last season, when they cycled through a series of replacement third basemen before finally bringing Rafael Devers up from the minors. They’re now banged up again with two of their supposed-to-be starters on the disabled list.

Dustin Pedroia is still working his way back from offseason knee surgery, and after successfully running the bases before Tuesday’s game, Pedroia’s scheduled to fly to Fort Myers on Tuesday for his own version of spring training. He said in late March that he was three months away from shifting from a rehab focus to a baseball focus, and flying to next week fits that timetable perfectly.

He’s getting closer, but he’s not necessarily close.

Marco Hernandez is also on the disabled list after a setback in his recovery from last season’s shoulder surgery. He was, at one point, the top internal choice to fill in for Pedroia, but he never even got into a Grapefruit League game.

“He’s still slowly but surely recovering,” Cora said, before adding: “Slower that what we thought.”

Add in the late-March trade of out-of-options Deven Marrero and now the unusual injury to Bogaerts, and the Red Sox have lost depth from an infield that wasn’t all that deep to begin with. That’ll change if Bogaerts and Pedroia come back, moving Nunez into a utility role, but for now, it’s a sub-optimal situation with sub-optimal solutions.

But if the Red Sox keep pitching and hitting like this, they’ll have little trouble weathering the storm.

*The New York Times

Yankees-Red Sox Rivalry Is Renewed With an Epic Drubbing

Billy Witz

BOSTON — It is the ritual of a baseball player to shrug off today’s misfortune, knowing that there will be a chance to get on the right side of the ledger tomorrow. It is the only sane way to navigate the six-month grind of a season.

Still, the Yankees managed on Tuesday to test the bounds of healthy amnesia — and the limits of humiliation — renewing their rivalry with the Boston Red Sox with an epic face plant of a 14-1 defeat.

If the Yankees were eager to get a crack at the Red Sox, whom they tried in vain to chase down for the division title last season, their excitement did not last long: Mookie Betts ripped the second pitch from Yankees ace Luis Severino high off the Green Monster for a double.

Once the Red Sox dispatched Severino after five innings, they gutted the bullpen — scoring nine runs in the sixth inning off Tommy Kahnle and Chasen Shreve, including a grand slam by Betts. The Yankees defense was also jittery — with errors by catcher Austin Romine and third baseman Miguel Andujar — and their hitters did nothing to dent Red Sox starter Chris Sale outside of Aaron Judge’s fifth-inning solo home run.

The Yankees had not lost this decisively to the Red Sox in nearly a decade — since an identical 14-1 defeat on Aug. 22, 2009, which, of course, happened to be the last time the Yankees won a World Series.

Though it is still early April, the Yankees may be faced with their first helping of adversity under their rookie manager, Aaron Boone. They have lost four of their last five games, have four players on the disabled list and already trail the Red Sox by four and a half games in the American League East.

“Just a crappy night all around,” Boone said.

He added: “That’s no fun getting beat up like that, especially when you have your ace going — certainly not the way we wanted to start the trip. But you also turn the page from it.”

The Yankees will have to gather themselves on the fly. On Tuesday, they began a stretch of 26 games over the next 27 days, and next up on the mound for Boston is David Price, who has yet to allow an earned run in two starts.

The rivalry regained a little of its sauciness last season after a stale period. Both teams were flush with young stars and ultimately finished first and second in the division for the first time since 2009. Then in September came some added intrigue: The Yankees accused the Red Sox of illegally stealing signs with the help of an Apple watch.

Mookie Betts, right, after his grand slam in the sixth inning. Credit Maddie Meyer/Getty Images Major League Baseball investigated and confirmed the Yankees accusations, but let the Red Sox off with a slap on the wrist. They did, however, threaten heavy fines if anyone from either organization commented on it. Tuesday was their first meeting since then.

If there were any lingering bitterness about the sign stealing, it may have been mitigated by both teams having new managers: Boone with the Yankees and Alex Cora with the Red Sox.

Each, though, had been a part of the rivalry as players.

“The fact that it matters as much as it does to so many people, whether it’s a game in August, whether it’s a game in April, whether it’s a game in October, you get the sense that it’s really important,” Boone said. “When you take a step back, you appreciate the opportunity to compete in such a big rivalry.”

That opportunity was something that Giancarlo Stanton experienced for the first time. After a dreary opening act in New York — in which he twice struck out five times in a game — Stanton, baseball’s leading home run hitter in 2017, was predictably greeted with hearty boos when he came to the plate in the first inning. Those became cheers from Red Sox fans when he struck out in his first two at-bats, running his major league-leading strikeout total to 22.

“The boos?” Stanton said afterward. “That’s how it’s going to be. That’s part of the stuff you don’t worry about. You understand it’s there and I’ve still got to play my game.”

Stanton did manage to single off Sale, then double off reliever Joe Kelly, giving a hint that he may be awakening from his early funk. He cryptically said he’d been distracted in recent days but declined to elaborate.

Those were the types of positive crumbs Boone clung to as he watched the Yankees disintegrate in the sixth inning. Kahnle, whose fastball has dipped several ticks to 94 miles per hour, gave up a one-out double to Betts and then walked Andrew Benintendi, bringing a visit from pitching coach Larry Rothschild. But the counseling did no good — J.D. Martinez doubled in two runs and the rout was on.

Andujar booted a grounder to prolong the inning and Betts took advantage, capping the scoring with a grand slam off Shreve.

Whether this passes for their first real adversity of the young season is hard to know, but the Yankees did admit that it stung.

“They’re in first place, and they’re the Red Sox,” Shreve said. “Every game against them we want to win, more so than every other game. It’s not easy to shake off, but we’re all professionals, so we’ll be ready tomorrow.”

Red Sox Bludgeon the Yankees With a Reminder: They’re Still the Team to Beat

Tyler Kepner

BOSTON — Through 118 seasons of triumph and turmoil, the Boston Red Sox had never won eight of their first nine games. Then again, they had never been granted an easier schedule, either. The Yankees, who arrived at Fenway Park on Tuesday, would pose a new kind of test: An opponent that is building up, not tearing down.

These were not the Tampa Bay Rays or the Miami Marlins, the Red Sox’s first two opponents, who ought to have a sign in front of their dugouts reading: “Pardon Our Appearance While We Renovate.” These were the Yankees, the team that added the major league home run leader, Giancarlo Stanton, to a group that nearly reached the World Series last October.

It wasn’t a fair fight — for the Yankees. The Red Sox kept on rolling, bludgeoning the Yankees by 14-1 behind starter Chris Sale. Mookie Betts even made a little rivalry history, becoming the first Red Sox player ever with four hits, four runs batted in and four runs scored in a game against the Yankees since R.B.I. became an official statistic in 1920.

“I just do what I can,” said Betts, who scored five times. “Sale did a great job keeping them off the board, and the rest of the guys as well. Can’t ask for an easier win.”

Sale, who blew away Stanton twice with high fastballs, took a rest after Boston’s nine-run sixth inning. Some leads actually are safe, even when these teams play here. By the time Stanton doubled in the eighth — his second hit of the game — many fans had gone home.

They were happy, and they should be. As deep and balanced as the Yankees looked in spring training, as tantalizing as it was to see Stanton in the same lineup as Aaron Judge, the Red Sox are the two-time defending American League East champions. And they didn’t exactly get worse.

While the Yankees struck first with their December trade for Stanton, the Red Sox shrugged and waited out the market for J.D. Martinez, the majors’ leader in slugging percentage last year, at .690 for Detroit and Arizona. They signed him to a five-year, $110 million deal after spring training had begun, emphatically answering the Yankees’ big move.

“We do the same thing,” Betts said. “It’s expected.”

Betts is hitting .432 now, even better than the .368 Xander Bogaerts was hitting on Sunday when he tumbled into the third-base dugout while chasing an errant throw. Bogaerts, the shortstop, cracked the talus bone in his left ankle and will miss about two weeks.

“Being part of this team, the way they’re playing right now, I think anyone can fill in and do the job,” Bogaerts said. “There’s just a lot of positive energy here and I don’t want this to be a setback for anyone.”

The Yankees (5-6) have been battered by injuries, too, with Greg Bird, Aaron Hicks, Brandon Drury and others on the disabled list. But the Red Sox are also missing second baseman Dustin Pedroia, who is recovering from knee surgery and has not been cleared to run the bases, and starter Drew Pomeranz, who is working on command in the minors as he comes back from a forearm strain.

The best news for the Red Sox — and the part that should worry the Yankees — is that their top three starters have looked sturdy. After wilting at the finish last season, in performance or health, Sale, David Price and Rick Porcello have combined for a 1.24 in seven starts.

Chris Sale had little trouble with the Yankees’ lineup. Credit Bob Dechiara/USA Today Sports, via Reuters Again, that came mostly against the Rays and the Marlins. But those three have averaged more than six innings per start after a light workload in spring training.

“They’re in a good place,” Manager Alex Cora said. “For me, that was most important: From the first pitch they threw in the program in spring training, they were locked in. This is what they’re doing, and you can see the results.”

The Red Sox have supported them with flawless defense; they are the first major league team since at least 1940 go without an error in their first 10 games.

“I know errors are not as important as when we used to play,” Cora said, alluding to the advanced metrics which now evaluate defense more accurately. “But when you make the routine play, you’re doing something good, and they’ve been making routine plays every day. We haven’t turned a few double plays, and we have to do that. But overall we’ve been a good defensive team.”

Losing Bogaerts may hurt. The Red Sox promoted Tzu-Wei Lin from Class AAA Pawtucket and started Brock Holt at shortstop on Tuesday, with Eduardo Nunez at second. Holt and Nunez are versatile former All-Stars, but they are not Bogaerts and Pedroia.

Even so, the Red Sox seem deep enough to weather their absence, and their start gives them a firm foundation. These first 10 games, with such an emphatic capper on Tuesday, were not so much a statement to the Yankees as a reminder to the Red Sox themselves — they are still the team to beat, with good reason.

“You can go through all the clichés — it’s a long season, we’ve got a lot of games left, blah, blah, blah, blah, blah,” Sale said. “But you see the morale in here, you see the energy, the confidence, kind of the easiness. It allows you to go out there and just play. There’s no pressing the panic button early. We have a lot of trust and a lot of faith in one another.”

*The New York Daily News

Giancarlo Stanton ‘saw the ball better’ in Yankees’ loss to Red Sox

Mike Mazzeo

BOSTON — Giancarlo Stanton struck out twice on Tuesday night — only this time he heard cheers afterward.

But Stanton seemed to find his hitting stroke later on in the Yankees’ 14-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park, ripping a single and a double in his final two at-bats.

For the MLB’s strikeout leader (22), it’s something to build on.

“I saw the ball better. I was on time. It was good progress,” said Stanton, whose awful struggles had become a massive topic in baseball.

Stanton said he watched film of his swing — which was “a mess,” according to one scout — and wanted to settle down.

“Make sure you’re not trying too hard and trying to do too much, which can subconsciously creep in no matter what,” Stanton said. “That’s the main thing: get a good pitch to hit and don’t worry about the outside noise.”

Stanton said he had been focusing on too many things during the team’s homestand, which prompted boos from Yankees fans as his Ks began to pile up.

As far as participating in the Yankees-Red Sox rivalry for the first time, he said: “It was cool. Not a cool outcome but it’s cool to see the passion and what goes on.”

The Red Sox fans didn’t exactly give him a warm welcome either.

“The boos?” Stanton asked before laughing. “That’s how it’s going to be. That’s part of the stuff you don’t worry about. You understand that it’s there and I’ve still got to play my game.”

INJURY UPDATES Gary Sanchez went 0-for-4 in his return to the lineup after sitting out the weekend due to cramping issues. Sanchez has started the 2018 campaign in a 2-for-36 slide.

Aaron Hicks (Grade 1 intercostal muscle strain) went 1-for-3 and played five innings of centerfield in his first minor-league rehab game for Triple-A Scranton on Tuesday night. Hicks is expected to play nine innings in center on Wednesday night before possibly rejoining the Yankees as early as Thursday in Boston.

Jacoby Ellsbury received a cortisone shot in his hip on Monday and he’ll be shut down for three days. The Bombers are hoping he can resume rehab activity on Friday. The Yankees are still waiting for a number of test results on Brandon Drury (migraines, blurred vision).

CC Sabathia (hip) played catch on Tuesday, and hopes to throw a bullpen soon, according to the YES Network. Sonny Gray will move up and take Sabathia’s next start on Thursday in Boston.

Tyler Wade (flu-like symptoms) came in off the bench and went hitless in two at-bats.

ROSTER MOVES The Yankees designated Jace Peterson for assignment to make room for Shane Robinson on the roster. Robinson started in center, going 1-for-3 with a walk out of the No. 9 hole. Neil Walker led off, with Brett Gardner getting the night off against tough lefty Chris Sale (4-for-23 with nine strikeouts). ... The Yankees acquired minor-leaguer L.J. Mazzilli, son of Lee Mazzilli, in a rare trade with the Mets. Mazzilli, a 27-year- old outfielder, had been with Triple-A Las Vegas. He had been in the Mets organization for the previous five seasons.

Yankees’ problems, with both hitting and pitching, get put on display by Red Sox in embarrassing loss

Mike Mazzeo

BOSTON — The Red Sox ambushed Yankees ace Luis Severino like they knew what was coming.

And maybe they did.

But this time, there was no need for an illegal Apple Watch.

ESPN analyst Rick Sutcliffe suggested that the 24-year-old flamethrower was tipping his pitches during the four-letter network’s broadcast on Tuesday night at Fenway Park.

Severino was tagged for four runs in the first two innings, as Boston jumped out early and ultimately embarrassed its AL East rival later on.

The final: Red Sox 14, Yankees 1.

The gleeful chant from the home crowd as things unraveled for the Yanks in a nine-run sixth inning for the Sox: “Yankees Suck! Yankees Suck!”

If only there was a mercy rule.

“Just a crappy night all around,” said first-year manager Aaron Boone, whose championship-or-bust team is off to a 5-6 start.

The Sox, meanwhile, have won nine in a row to open up an early 4½-game lead in the AL East.

The Bombers were dominated by Chris Sale, but that was nothing out of the ordinary.

On this night, their pitching needed to step up. It didn’t.

Severino didn’t have his wipeout slider and was all over the place. When he was in the zone, he was getting tagged by the likes of Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez.

The Sox sure looked more potent offensively — with the addition of slugger J.D. Martinez helping their cause.

“I don’t know if I was tipping or they saw something, but the game isn’t the time to work on that,” said Severino, who had looked dominant in his first two starts of 2018. “I need to go to the bullpen or maybe see video.”

Boone wouldn’t confirm if the team addressed pitch tipping with Severino on Tuesday night but did say it’s something they’ve spoken with him about in the past.

Last season, Twins hitters insinuated Severino was tipping his pitches during the AL wild-card game, when he imploded and recorded only one out.

But Severino isn’t the only Yankee hurler with issues. Tommy Kahnle’s velocity was down, and he got shelled in the sixth, as his ERA rose to 7.11.

Kahnle, who was a dominant force down the stretch in 2017, left the mound barking at himself.

“I’m not worried,” said Kahnle, who claims to be healthy. “I’m more trying to figure out why. I think it’s mechanical. I’ve been kind of all over the place lately. So I’m just trying to find it.”

The Bombers have already had to deal with injuries, bullpen meltdowns and games they have given away and lost in extra innings.

With so many expectations, adversity has come quickly. In the sixth, they fell apart. The lowlights were Miguel Andujar’s error and Chasen Shreve surrendering a grand slam to Betts, who had the best game of his career.

“It sucked,” Austin Romine said.

Boone’s message to his team at the time: “Fight. Grind. No excuses. No sulking.”

“Just continue to fight the fight and know that looking around at each other eventually we’ll get it rolling because of the guys in that room and the quality of players that we have,” Boone said.

Stanton twice added to his MLB-leading strikeout total — which now stands at 22 — but he did drill a single and a double. And Aaron Judge had three hits, including a 444-foot solo shot — all of them off Sale, against whom he had been 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts (two walks).

Gary Sanchez went 0-for-4 and his early-season funk has now reached 2-for-36.

Clearly, the Yankees have a lot of problems right now. They can continue telling themselves it’s still early, but something has to give soon.

Yankees get crushed by Red Sox, fall under .500 with 14-1 loss

Mike Mazzeo

BOSTON — In the sixth inning, as things started to unravel, Red Sox fans began one of their favorite chants: “Yankees suck! Yankees suck!”

On Tuesday night, they were not wrong. The Bombers looked awful in every facet of the game — as they were embarrassed by the Sox, losing 14-1 at Fenway Park.

Luis Severino gave up four runs in the first two innings — five overall. Tommy Kahnle and Chasen Shreve combined to give up nine runs in the sixth inning alone. Miguel Andujar committed an error at third.

On the other hand, Chris Sale was dominant, allowing one run on eight hits and striking out eight in six innings. Mookie Betts went 4-for-4 with a grand slam and 5 runs scored.

Facing Sale for the first time, MLB strikeout leader Giancarlo Stanton added a pair of Ks to his total (22). Stanton did drill a 115.5 mph single to right in his third at-bat.

Brian Cashman and Aaron Boone haven’t been in panic mode just yet, with plenty of baseball left. But this will certainly cause Yankee Nation to panic, that’s for sure.

For what it’s worth, the Sox (9-1) now lead the Yankees (5-6) by 4½ games in the AL East.

PLAY OF THE GAME Aaron Judge, who came in 0-for-12 with 10 strikeouts (two walks) versus Chris Sale, went 3-for-3 off the Sox ace — including launching a 444-foot solo homer to dead center.

TURNING POINT Andrew Benintendi drilled a two-run triple into the right-field corner with one out in the second that gave the Red Sox a 3-0 lead. Hanley Ramirez then blooped an RBI single to give the Sox a 4-run cushion.

STAR OF THE GAME Mookie Betts, who looked like the best player on the field Tuesday night, wreaked havoc out of the leadoff spot.

STAT OF THE DAY 0.78. Luis Severino had posted a 0.78 ERA in his last seven road starts dating back to the All-Star break.

UNSUNG HERO Andrew Benintendi, Hanley Ramirez and J.D. Martinez combined for seven RBI behind Mookie Betts.

M.I.A. Returning to the lineup, Gary Sanchez went 0-for-4, and is now batting .056 (2-for-36).

UP NEXT Wednesday at Boston, 7:10 p.m. Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 2.92 ERA) vs. David Price (1-0, 0.00)

*The New York Post

Aaron Boone’s theory on why Red Sox pounded Severino

Dan Martin

BOSTON — Luis Severino struggled with his slider command Tuesday night, but that might not have been his only issue in his worst outing of the young season.

Manager Aaron Boone admitted Severino may be tipping his pitches and that could have been what led to him giving up five runs in five innings of the Yankees’ 14-1 loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park.

“We’ve addressed certain things in the past,” Boone said following the defeat. “We’ve noticed things from time to time. We’re always as vigilant as we can be with what he may or may not be doing.”

Severino blamed his poor outing mostly on a lack of command of his slider, though he added he may look into whether he was giving anything away on the mound.

“I don’t know if I was tipping or if they saw something, but the game is not the time to be working on it,” Severino said. “I need to see video to see what’s going on, if there is anything going on.”

He pointed to his first two starts of the season as reason not to be too concerned that it’s an issue, since he pitched well in both outings.

Regardless of what his main problems were, Severino was no match for Chris Sale.

The Yankees right-hander allowed a run in the first, but managed to get out of the inning with the bases loaded. Severino gave up three more in the second and another in the fourth, as the top three hitters in Boston’s lineup — Mookie Betts, Andrew Benintendi and Hanley Ramirez — went 6-for-6 with two walks and a sacrifice fly off the starter. The trio drove in five runs and scored four before Severino left the game.

“There were more balls over the middle of the plate than we would have liked,” catcher Austin Romine said. “He was having trouble putting away guys. He got going for a little bit here and there, but he never really got the pace of play he wanted. It was a battle.”

Severino said the 38-degree temperature wasn’t a factor, but Betts wasted no time getting to him, blasting a double to open the bottom of the first.

“It was cold, but everybody was in the same situation,” Severino said.

He gave up eight hits and three walks and whiffed six in the outing.

“I thought he settled in a little bit and at least grinded through five innings,” Boone said. “It was a tough start.”

Yankees demolished by rival Red Sox

George A. King III

BOSTON — Not even the frosty air that smothered Fenway Park on Tuesday evening could mask the stench pouring out of the Yankees’ road gray uniforms.

A monster homer and three hits from Aaron Judge or Giancarlo Stanton singling and doubling in the final two at-bats after whiffing in the first two didn’t reduce the need for nose plugs.

No, the smell was so putrid during a 14-1 loss to the Red Sox in front of 32,357 customers, nothing could kill it.

“That is no fun getting beat up like that,’’ Aaron Boone said of his club’s fourth loss in five games that dropped its record to 5-6 and left the Yankees 4 ½ lengths back of the AL East-leading Red Sox, who are 9- 1. “Especially you have your ace going and certainly not the way we wanted to start the trip but turn the page from it.’’

Whatever the reason — and some alluded he might have been tipping his pitches — Luis Severino didn’t pitch like the ace of the Yankees staff. Matched against Chris Sale, Boston’s top starter, Severino had no feel for his signature slider and paid a very large price.

“I didn’t finish with my slider,’’ said Severino (2-1), who gave up five runs, eight hits and three walks in five hard-to-watch innings, though he wouldn’t use the cold weather as an excuse. “My fastball was good and my changeup was good. The slider wasn’t working.’’

Severino gave up a run in the first, three in the third and another in the fourth that put the Yankees in a hole too deep to dig out of against Sale (1-0), who allowed a run, eight hits and struck out eight in six frames.

Trailing 5-1 going into the bottom of the sixth with Sale dealing, the Yankees didn’t have much of a chance to come back and win. Nine runs in the sixth, a rally fueled by third baseman Miguel Andujar’s fielding error, made sure the Yankees weren’t coming back.

“It sucked. We don’t want to give up nine runs in an inning,’’ catcher Austin Romine said.

The nine-run frame came at the expense of Yankees relievers Tommy Kahnle and Chasen Shreve and highlighted by Mookie Betts’ grand slam. Betts went 4-for-4, drove in four runs and scored a career-high five runs.

In addition to ineffectiveness from Severino, Kahnle and Shreve, there was more ugliness from Gary Sanchez’s frigid bat.

Sanchez, who was the DH after missing the previous two games because of a cramp in his right leg, went 0-for-4 and has one hit in 33 at-bats.

Judge’s three hits included a fifth-inning homer off Sale that landed well into the center-field seats, but that and Stanton’s two hits late in the game didn’t do much to lift the spirits in the visitors’ clubhouse.

“It happens, it’s baseball. Win as a team, lose as a team,’’ Judge said of the lopsided loss in which he went 3-for-3 against Sale, the lefty he was hitless in a dozen at-bats against going into the game. “It’s a tough loss. We weren’t able to string hits off Sale. He is tough, one of the best in the game.’’

As for Stanton getting two hits after whiffing against Sale in his first two at-bats, he was encouraged after starting the evening hitting .167 (7-for-42) with 20 strikeouts.

“Much better,’’ Stanton said when asked if he felt differently than he did Sunday when he went 0-for-7, was punched out five times and got booed at Yankee Stadium. “I saw the ball better and was on time. It was good progress. Get good pitches to hit and don’t worry about the outside noise.’’

Or the smell that was impossible to ignore.

Red Sox showed the Yankees early how AL East can be won

Joel Sherman

BOSTON — The Red Sox began the first Rivalry series with the best record in the American League because, in some ways, their Grapefruit League schedule extended into the regular season.

Boston played its first six games in Florida and its first nine overall against the Rays and Marlins, who sport rosters with a distinct “mid-March bus ride to Fort Myers” feel.

At a time when more teams than ever are embracing the joys of losing — big — Tampa Bay and Miami have been as subtle as a hand grenade in plundering their rosters. No team had previously lost four 20- homer hitters from one year to the next as the Rays did with Corey Dickerson, Evan Longoria, Logan Morrison and Steven Souza Jr. No team had previously lost four players who had reached at least 650 plate appearances as the Marlins did with Dee Gordon, , Giancarlo Stanton and .

To have those teams represent your first nine games was a gift, and the Red Sox did what a good club should — unwrapped the present to expose all of its deficiencies. Boston blew a late 4-0 lead on Opening Day in St. Petersburg and then ran off eight straight wins to complete the Sunshine State-of-mind portion of the program prior to the Yankees arriving at Fenway.

The schedule is the schedule, and you have to beat who is in front of you. But perhaps more than any time in recent memory — with so many teams racing to the bottom — whom you play and when is going to be vital in determining playoff spots.

One reason the Twins captured the second last year was because they played 10 of their final 49 games against the Tigers, going 8-2 against a bad club that got worse after an in-season sell-off. Entering this year, Bovada had the White Sox (68 wins), Tigers (68 ¹/₂) and Royals (71 ¹/₂) with the three lowest over-under victory totals, and they represent 57 of 162 games on the schedule of the Indians and Twins.

Like the Tigers last year, some of these clubs are going to start badly and descend from there. The Rays have a strong farm system, but two of the starters they were counting on to help as the season progressed — Jose DeLeon and Brent Honeywell — already have needed Tommy John surgery and are lost for the year. The return of disabled players such as J.T. Realmuto and Dan Straily should help the lowly Marlins, but their farm system is not nearly ready to offer much assistance. And you can expect those clubs — and several others — to sell off quality veterans from now through Aug. 31 — as Detroit did in 2017.

But it is one thing to get an easy mark in front of you and another to do something about it.

The Red Sox — under their rookie manager, Alex Cora — did that. Their rotation, in particular, was brilliant, and that helped Boston win eight of its first nine for the first time in its history.

The Yankees — under their rookie manager, Aaron Boone — did not capitalize to the same extent. They did sweep two games from the Rays in The Bronx. But the Orioles are the kind of team that could be pushed into the also-rans rather quickly. They opened the season 1-5, outscored by 20 runs in those six games before heading to the Stadium. But the Yankees did not shove them in that direction.

The Yanks, with a chance to win all four games in the series, lacked clutch hitting and timely pitching, and the Orioles won three of four. Thus, the Yankees had a 5-5 start and in all five defeats they either were tied or led in the seventh inning or later. The Yankees actually led their Sunday game against Baltimore 5-0 and still lost. Meanwhile, the Red Sox rallied from their own five-run deficit the same afternoon, scoring six eighth-inning runs to erase a 7-2 Rays lead and win 8-7.

With substantial pressure to win despite playing under new managers, the Yankees and Red Sox each would have benefited from a strong opening statement. The Red Sox delivered that, manhandling a couple of patsies. The Yankees, though, came to Fenway having already squandered some early gifts.

With so many clubs playing for a season that is not 2018, the schedule is going to keep giving gifts to the two expected AL East powerhouses. Which one is going to best take advantage?

*The Bergen Record

Yankees pummeled by Red Sox in one-sided rivalry at Fenway

Pete Caldera

BOSTON – The anticipation of a red-hot, Yankees-Red Sox pennant race had fueled the offseason, helping fans on both sides of The Rivalry get through the winter.

Yet, the opening game this season between the clubs – played on a cold, Tuesday night at Fenway Park - resulted in a lopsided 14-1 victory for the Red Sox before 32,357 frozen fans.

All told, it was a rough re-debut against Boston for Yankees manager Aaron Boone, who famously ended the Red Sox’s 2003 season with a pennant-winning home run in pinstripes.

“Just a crappy night all around,’’ Boone said after Boston (9-1) coasted to its ninth straight win. “It’s no fun getting beat up like that.’’

Boston had already built a significant lead when Mookie Betts’ grand slam – off Chasen Shreve – highlighted a nine-run sixth inning.

By then, starter Luis Severino – who might have been tipping some pitches - was gone and Boston’s lefty ace Chris Sale was lined up for the victory, after going 0-3 in five starts against the Yanks in 2018.

“Not a cool outcome, but it was cool to see the passion,’’ Yankees’ slugger Giancarlo Stanton (2-for-4) said of his first Yanks-Sox experience in the regular season.

Standing out in left field and standing in the batter’s box, Stanton was asked about the Fenway atmosphere.

“The boos? Yeah, that’s how it’s going to be,’’ Stanton said after the Yanks (5-6) had lost for the fourth time in five tries. “That’s part of the stuff you don’t worry about. You understand it’s there and I’ve still got to play my game.’’

Sale (1-0) lasted six innings, yielding one run – a mammoth homer by Aaron Judge – while striking out eight batters.

Not Sevy’s night Severino (2-1) put the Yanks in a quick, 4-0 deficit after two innings, but lasted five – yielding five runs total.

Opponents weren’t picking up Severino’s slider over his first two starts, but the Sox were on it Tuesday – prompting a concern that the right-hander might have been tipping.

“I don’t know if I was tipping or if they saw something,’’ Severino said. “The game is not the time to work on that. (You) go to the bullpen or see video and see what’s going on and maybe work on that.’’

Against Severino, Hanley Ramirez produced RBI in his first three times up, with two RBI singles and a sacrifice fly.

Betts doubled, singled, walked and scored after his first three plate appearances.

And Benintendi continued to bedevil Severino, with a walk and two extra-base hits – including a two-run triple to right in Boston’s three-run second inning.

For his career, Benintendi is now 8-for-16 against Severino with two doubles, a triple and two homers.

Boone said that conversations with Severino guarding his pitches are ongoing and it’s something they’re trying to stay on top of.

Giancarlo vs. Fenway Stanton was greeted by a heavy dose of booing in his first Yankee appearance at Fenway.

Of course, Stanton had already heard it from his own fans, coming off a 3-for-28 inaugural homestand in pinstripes with a whopping 16 strikeouts.

And he fanned in his first two at-bats against Sale – the first time on three pitches – before snapping a personal 0-for-14 slide with a fifth-inning single. He added a line drive double in the eighth off lefty Brian Johnson.

“Saw the ball better, was on time. Made some good progress,’’ said Stanton, who admitted early trouble in picking up Sale’s pitches; it was the first time he’d face the lefty ace.

“That’s the main thing, getting good pitches to hit and don’t worry about the outside noise,’’ Stanton said, not specifying the “noise.’’

“Just felt like there was a lot going on, focusing on maybe too many things.’’

Injured Yankees on the mend as their series with the Red Sox begins

Pete Caldera

BOSTON – As the Yankees donned ski caps and prepared to warmup at chilly Fenway Park, manager Aaron Boone ran down the status of his banged-up club.

Things were generally improving for the Yanks as they set to open a three-game series against the first place Red Sox – the first meeting between the historic rivals this season.

“Obviously we're going to see some great starting pitching,’’ Boone said of facing lefties Chris Sale and David Price before Rick Porcello in the series finale. “And they're off to a really good start. I think their athleticism is one thing that stands out to me.’’

Giancarlo Stanton finished 2-for-4 on the night, including two strikeouts against Sale.

Gary Sanchez Having missed the last two games due to right calf cramps, the Yankees’ catcher was available to go behind the plate on Tuesday. However, after much consideration, Boone decided to use him as the .

“(I) figured to get his bat in there, but also on a cold night (to) give him one more day’’ without having to go through the rigors of catching, Boone said. “He told me (Monday) he was good to catch or DH, everything is checking out OK.

Sanchez has struggled at the plate during the early going, with just one hit in his last 29 at-bats entering Tuesday.

Jacoby Ellsbury Ellsbury (sore hip) received cortisone shot on Monday and is due to begin “ramping back up’’ on Friday, according to Boone.

“Hopefully, that will get him going in the right direction again,’’ Boone said of the lefty-hitting outfielder, who had been getting at-bats in extended spring training before suffering from hip soreness.

Ellsbury was originally delayed due to a right oblique strain that caused him to miss most of the spring training exhibition season.

Having quickly used up their surplus of outfielders, the Yankees were hoping to have Ellsbury back sooner than later.

Brandon Drury After admitting last week that he was dealing with blurred vision from migraine headaches, Drury

(migraines, blurred vision) underwent a battery of tests on Monday in New York.

“We got some good news on some of the results,’’ Boone said without being specific. “But a number of the results will probably take a couple of days to trickle in.’’

In Drury’s absence, Boone has been going with rookie Miguel Andujar as his regular third baseman.

Lefty-hitting infielder Tyler Wade, sidelined with flu-like symptoms all weekend, was available off the bench on Tuesday.

Aaron Hicks The switch-hitting center fielder “is close to joining us as well,’’ Boone said.

Hicks went to the 10-day disabled list following the Yankees’ opening day game at Toronto, due to an intercostal strain. But he’s currently on a minor-league rehab assignment and could return to the Yankees as early as Thursday’s series finale at Fenway.

But the club could also wait until Friday’s series opener at Detroit to activate Hicks.

Brett Gardner The Yankees’ veteran outfielder was not in Tuesday’s lineup, but was just getting an additional day of rest following Monday’s off date.

Gardner will be back in the lineup for Wednesday night’s game according to Boone, who inserted Shane Robinson into center field on Tuesday. The right-handed hitting Robinson was called up from Class AAA Scranton/Wilkes-Barre before the game and lefty-hitting Jace Peterson was designated for assignment.

“I wanted to give (Garnder) that day (off) in Toronto that first weekend, when Billy [McKinney] went down,’’ Boone said of McKinney’s shoulder injury.

And with Tuesday’s match-up against Sale, “giving him two days now felt like the wise thing to do.’’

*The Newark Star Ledger

Red Sox, Chris Sale embarrass Yankees | Rapid reaction

Brendan Kuty

BOSTON -- Luis Severino, coming off a third-place finish in the American League Cy Young, said he wanted to be mentioned with today's greats. Clayton Kershaw, Corey Kluber -- he wanted to be considered in their class, one of the best.

"I want to be on that level," he said in March.

Severino had a chance to slay one of the game's best in Chris Sale on Tuesday. Instead, Sale showed Severino why he doesn't belong yet.

And the rest of the Red Sox showed why those who just handed the Yankees the AL East in the offseason might have been a little premature.

Boston battered Severino and the Yankees, 14-1, at Fenway Park on Tuesday night.

By the time the sixth inning came, booming "Yankees suck!" chants were drowning out the stadium speakers.

Which was fitting because, well, the Yankees sucked.

They fell to 5-6 -- manager Aaron Boone's first losing record -- and have lost four of their last five games. Boston jumped out to a 9-1 record.

The Red Sox exploded for nine runs in a sixth inning that included a Mookie Betts grand slam off reliever Chasen Shreve and an ugly error by third baseman Miguel Andujar.

It was over way before that.

The Red Sox slammed Luis Severino for five runs over five innings. When the Yankees finally got on the board for the first time in the fifth, it was on their lone highlight of the night -- a 444-foot solo blast from Aaron Judge to dead center that traveled out of the park at 116 mph, according to MLB's Statcast. Judge had three hits off Sale, including two singles, after coming into the night hitless in 12 at-bats against him with 10 strikeouts.

Sale, last year's AL Cy Young second-place finisher, contained everyone else. The lefty only gave up a run on eight hits, eight strikeouts and no walks in six innings. He twice struck out slugger Giancarlo Stanton, who was hitless in his last 14 at-bats before singling in the fifth.

Severino didn't have his fastball command and his slider was all over the place. Tommy Kahnle, who replaced him, was pretty bad, too. Kahnle was pulled after giving up five runs -- three earned -- while walking three and giving up two hits. Kahnle, a huge bright spot for the Yankees in the second half last season, saw his ERA jump to 7.11.

Mookie Betts had four hits (including a grand slam) and a walk, scoring five runs. Andrew Benintendi went 2-for-3 with two RBI and two walks. Hanley Ramirez drove in three runs.

Stanton doubled in the seventh -- his first extra-base hit since homering April 4 at home against the Rays.

The Yankees called up 33-year-old outfielder Shane Robinson before the game. He hit ninth and started in center field. Robinson went 1-for-3 as Brett Gardner got a rest day.

INJURY REPORT

Center fielder Jacoby Ellsbury (left hip discomfort) had a cortisone shot Tuesday. He won't resume baseball activities until Friday, Boone said.

The Yankees are still waiting for tests back on third baseman Brandon Drury (severe migraines, blurred vision). He saw a specialist in New York on Monday. Boone said some of the results the Yankees have received were good.

Center fielder Aaron Hicks (strained right intercostal) was set to play five innings with Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre on Tuesday. He could return as early as Thursday.

NEXT

Wednesday: Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., WPIX. RHP Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 2.92) vs. David Price (1-0, 0.00).

Thursday: Yankees at Boston Red Sox, 7:10 p.m., YES. RHP Sonny Gray (1-0, 3.60) vs. RHP Rick Porcello (2-0, 2.84)

*Associated Press

Betts hits slam, Red Sox rout Yanks 14-1 for 9th win in row

BOSTON -- A monster night by Mookie Betts kept the Red Sox rolling.

Betts hit a grand slam and scored five times, leading Chris Sale and Boston over the New York Yankees 14-1 Tuesday for its ninth straight victory. The Red Sox improved to 9-1 for the first time in franchise history.

Betts went 4 for 4 and drove in four runs. His third career slam cleared the Green Monster in left field and capped a nine-run burst in the sixth inning that turned the first matchup of the season between longtime rivals into a rout.

"I just got some good pitches to hit and put some good swings on it today," Betts said. "I think just all of us putting together good at-bats kind wears guys down."

Manager Alex Cora has been pushing his new team to be aggressive in the strike zone. He sat down with Betts this spring and showed the All-Star outfielder how effective he can be when he does.

"A slugger leading off," Cora said. "He's going to make contact. But now he understands that he can do damage in the strike zone."

Betts joined Ken Griffey Jr. (1996) as the only players to have four hits, five runs and four RBI in a game against the Yankees.

Sale (1-0) allowed one run in six innings, scattering eight hits. He struck out eight without a walk.

He said the run support helped him settle in.

"The biggest key is it just allows you to go out there and throw strikes," Sale said. "You're not too worried about making mistakes."

Boston's starting pitchers improved to 6-0 on the season on a night in which the temperature dipped into the 30s.

Hanley Ramirez went 2 for 2 with three RBI. Andrew Benintendi added a two-run triple, along with a double.

Luis Severino (2-1) allowed five runs and eight hits in five innings.

Aaron Judge had three hits for the Yankees, a drive off Sale over the center field wall in the fifth for his third home run of the season.

The highest profile acquisitions both showed a little something at the plate after early-season slumps

Boston's J.D. Martinez went 1 for 5, but had a two-run double in the sixth.

Yankees slugger Giancarlo Stanton went 2 for 4. He struck out his first two times up against Sale, and has now fanned 22 times in 46 at-bats.

"It's good progress," Stanton said. "We've got two more here, so pick up where I left off here today and get it going. "

He said his introduction to the rivalry was "cool."

"Not a cool outcome, but it was cool to see the passion and what goes on," he said.

Of Boston's nine runs in the sixth, six were unearned.

The Yankees brought in Chasen Shreve with two outs in the inning and runners at first and second. He hit Jackie Bradley Jr. with the first pitch to load the bases, and Christian Vazquez followed with a grounder that Miguel Andujar botched at third, allowing Martinez to score on the error.

Brock Holt walked and Betts cleared the bases to put the Red Sox up 14-1.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Yankees: Manager Aaron Boone said he chose to use c Gary Sanchez (right calf) in the DH spot Tuesday as opposed to catcher just as a precaution. ... Boone said they are still waiting on more information on the status of INF Brandon Drury (severe migraines). He went through several tests Monday. Boone said some of the early results are promising, but it will take a few days for other tests to come back

Red Sox: Cora said the command was off for Drew Pomeranz (left forearm flexor strain) during his rehab start at Triple-A Pawtucket on Sunday. Pomeranz wants one more start to "tune in his mechanics," Cora said, and will make it at Double-A Portland on Friday. ... 2B Dustin Pedroia (left knee surgery) will go to their spring training facility in Fort Myers, Florida, next Tuesday to continue his rehab when the team begins its upcoming nine-game road trip. Cora said Pedroia has started to run the bases and is progressing.

BIG LOSS

The Yankees lost by their largest margin since at 15-1 loss to Houston on Aug. 25 2015. It is their largest against Boston since Aug. 22, 2009, also a 14-1 loss at Fenway.

MAKING PROGRESS

Red Sox SS Xander Bogaerts said he is optimistic about being able to make it back to action in the initial 10-to-14 day timeframe doctors made after he cracked a bone in his left ankle while sliding into Tampa Bay's dugout during Sunday's win.

"It depends on how my body recovers from it or responds to it. I think my body is normally really good at that," he said. "So we'll see how long it takes. Whenever I'm ready I'll be out there and be with the team again."

UP NEXT

Yankees: RHP Masahiro Tanaka (1-1, 2.92 ERA) is 2-1 with a 3.35 ERA, giving up 17 earned runs and 41 hits in seven career games at Fenway Park.

Red Sox: LHP David Price (1-0, 0.00 ERA) has given up no runs and just seven hits in 14 innings during his first two starts this season. He is 15-11 with a 4.53 ERA in 38 career appearances (37 starts) against New York.