Hours after Boston’s frustrating loss against Baltimore, it was time for yet another ex-Red Sox superstar to make a regular season debut with a different team.
With ex-Red Sox broadcaster Don Orsillo on the call, Xander Bogaerts’ Padres played Opening Day host to the Rockies in San Diego. While ex-Rays Cy Young Award-winner Blake Snell managed to punch out nine, he gave up three runs over 4 1/3 innings and was saddled with the loss in the 7-2 finish.
But, the Padres didn’t lose due to a lack of effort from Bogaerts. Their new, prized shortstop went 3-for-4 with two doubles while batting cleanup. Bogaerts didn’t drive in any runs, but he did score once for the Padres.
J.D. Martinez also made his regular season debut for his new California team. He didn’t do quite as well, although he did drive in a run while going 1-for-4.
Combined with Mookie Betts, the ex-Red Sox pair went 1-for-8 with a walk, an RBI and a run scored in the Dodgers’ 8-2 Opening day win against Arizona.