FORT MYERS, Fla. – The Red Sox officially opened the preseason on Friday with a 5-2 come-from-behind win over the Northeastern University Huskies.
In the early frames, the Sox were felled by the same issues that cost them so many games the year before: too many errors, unearned runs, and men left on base. Northeastern took a 2-0 lead in the top of the second on a pair of unearned runs, caused by the second infield error in as many innings.
Fortunately, these games don’t count.
Right-hander Brian Van Belle started for the Sox. He struck out the side in the first, but gave up one hit and issued one walk before manager Alex Cora made a two-out pitching change in the second.
“Going into it I was just trying to pound the zone. That’s my strength,” Van Belle said. It’s easy to get caught up in all these other things that baseball has to offer, but for me I was just trying to stick to my guns, what brought me here. So just fill the zone up, mixing my pitches, fastball, changeup was my bread and butter today. Sweeper was a little here and there with the command, but overall just trying to throw strikes.”
A long list of minor-league arms followed Van Belle: Zach Bryant, Jacob Webb, Wyatt Mills, Grant Gambrell, and Hobie Harris, who closed out the seven-inning contest. After the second inning the Huskies couldn’t manage another baserunner for the remainder of the game.
Early Red Sox spring training games are typically full of minor leaguers and non-roster invitees, but Friday’s starting nine included several big-leaguers and top prospects. Triston Casas and Nick Sogard started at first and third, and The top-third of the lineup included two of Boston’s ‘Big 3’ top prospects; Kristian Campbell started at second and batted second, followed by shortstop Marcelo Mayer.
All told, the Boston lineup collected five hits, three walks and struck out four times. They were 3-for-5 with runners in scoring position and left five men on base.
Mayer got the organization’s first hit of the year, a two-out single in the bottom of the first.
“I smoked it,” he said after. “It was good. Funky lefty, I’m just glad I hit it where I did.”
The Red Sox broke through in the bottom of the fourth. Facing Andrew Basel, they loaded the bases on a pair of one-out singles by Abraham Toro and Nate Eaton, with a walk by Nick Sogard in between. Jhostynxon Garcia, the outfield prospect known as “The Password,” singled to tie the game. Mark Kolozsvary’s hit-by-pitch reloaded the bases, and Trayce Thompson’s sacrifice fly gave Boston the lead. Kolozsvary stole second and Garcia scored an insurance run on a throwing error by catcher Gregory Bozzo to finish the inning with a 4-2 lead.
While the Red Sox pitching staff held the Huskies down for the remainder of the game, Nathan Hickey, who replaced Kolzsvary behind the dish, hit a two-out RBI single to plate one final run in the bottom of the sixth.
Roman Anthony was originally slated to start in left and bat in the leadoff spot, but was scratched due to elbow soreness from a hit-by-pitch on Thursday. He kept busy in the dugout by surreptitiously placing sunflower seeds on Mayer’s baseball cap.
“I didn’t realize! He was real stealthy with that,” Mayer said.
“It was good to be back here and be back out there with the boys,” Mayer said. “Playing a real baseball game was really fun.”
“It’s definitely just exciting to get in front of the people in the stadium, just feel that energy for the first time in a long time,” agreed Campbell.
With that, baseball is officially back.