Against the backdrop of the far-better-than-expected pitching by the Red Sox in 2024’s first series in Seattle, and of the ongoing (and self-created by owner John Fisher) travails of the Oakland A’s, our team headed down the coast hoping to capitalize on a really decent start to the season.
We got that, and more. The starting pitching was excellent (10 K’s from Tanner Houck, a career high) and the offense was damn good, especially related to base running. Jarren Duran couldn’t be stopped, singling and stealing a base in each of the first three innings. That set a record as a Sox leadoff hitter, with five stolen bases in the first five games of a season.