Enmanuel Valdez smashed a three-run home run, Garrett Whitlock delivered five solid innings on the mound, and the Boston Red Sox secured a 5-1 victory over the Seattle Mariners on Sunday.
Valdez, stepping in for the injured Vaughn Grissom at second base, launched a ball into the right field in the fourth inning after starting the season with eight hitless at-bats.
“It was a significant momentum shift,” Whitlock remarked. “He energized us in the dugout, and that homer was a huge moment.” Tyler O’Neill also contributed with a solo homer in the second inning against Seattle’s Bryce Miller (0-1), who was tagged with four runs and six hits across five innings.
Whitlock (1-0) played a crucial role in guiding Boston to a series split, having surrendered only three hits while striking out eight batters without issuing a single walk. Whitlock primarily relied on his fastball, a strategy suggested by catcher Reese McGuire after observing Seattle’s struggles at the plate.
“I feel like that’s something I need to continue to learn how to do,” Whitlock acknowledged. “And that’s big on Reese to do. He’s the one that saw it, and he’s the one that made the adjustments.”
Whitlock’s performance capped off an impressive series by the Red Sox starting pitchers, who collectively allowed just five runs (four earned) in 22 innings while striking out 27 batters and issuing only five walks.
Seattle managed to score their lone run when Mitch Haniger doubled and Josh Rojas drove him in with a two-out single in the second inning. Justin Slaten sealed the win for Boston with 2 1/3 hitless innings, earning his first career save in his second appearance in the majors.
Despite a strong showing by rookie Bryce Miller, who recorded six strikeouts and two walks, the Mariners’ offense struggled, mustering only four hits.
“Offensively, we just haven’t found our rhythm yet,” commented manager Scott Servais. “It’s still early in the season. We need to find more consistency at the plate, and we will.”
