⚾ Boston Sports Hub

In front of a sellout crowd of 36,233, Contreras hit a 423-foot homer over everything in left-center, breaking a sixth-inning tie as Boston snapped a five-game losing streak. Mayer added a two-run shot of his own in the sixth.

Bogaerts had made one prior trip back to Boston in 2024, but while that visit was emotional, he was on the injured list at the time and unable to play. Now in his fourth season with the Padres, he finally returned to the field where he became a legend.

Before the home opener, two dozen players from the Red Sox' 1986 American League champions emerged from the Green Monster and walked to the infield to steady applause. Wade Boggs, Dwight Evans, and Jim Rice in particular drew loud cheers.

The Sox are sending him to Texas to see Dr. Keith Meister, who performed Oviedo's Tommy John surgery in 2023. In the 28 months since that surgery, Oviedo has pitched in just 10 games.

After two months of spring training and a six-game road trip to open the 2026 MLB season, the Red Sox returned to Boston on Friday for the Fenway Park home opener.

"I want them to have that feeling of knowing they're the first to start off the season," said Travis Gonick, who brings his three sons from New Jersey every year — a tradition captured in pictures.

A pregame ceremony included the return of more than 20 members of the 1986 Red Sox, and the first pitch was scheduled for 2:10 p.m. at venerable 114-year-old Fenway Park.

As bad as the 1-5 Red Sox have been — and they've been pretty bad — the home opener is usually a safe haven with fans. Peter Abraham examines whether the goodwill can survive a rough start to the season.

Anthony homered as a pinch hitter in the ninth inning vs. the Astros to snap an 0-fer. The young outfielder used most of a day off to regroup before delivering when called upon.

Since winning their season opener, they've been a disheveled mess. It's frustrating for an assortment of reasons, not the least of which is that it's all too familiar. Chad Finn doesn't hold back.