The Boston Red Sox secured a 6-4 victory over the New York Mets on Sunday, highlighted by Grapefruit League debuts from two key players: right-hander Walker Buehler and designated hitter Masataka Yoshida. Buehler tossed two scoreless innings, striking out four, while Yoshida went 2-for-3 with a run and three RBIs to lead the offense.
Buehler navigated a first-inning jam after allowing a leadoff double to Jeff McNeil and hitting Jose Siri with two outs, but he settled in to retire the side in order in the second. Reflecting on his outing, Buehler told NESN’s Jahmai Webster, “Don’t like to give up doubles to start the game, but other than that, pretty good.”
The right-hander, who signed a one-year deal with Boston, hinted at a potential long-term future with the Red Sox. While he cherishes his time with the Dodgers, Buehler expressed excitement about Boston’s mix of established talent and promising prospects, including the highly touted “Big 3.” “I like this group of guys a lot, and we’re having a lot of fun,” he said. “Hopefully, it’s a few more [years] after this one.”
The Red Sox bullpen—featuring Liam Hendriks, Austin Adams, Brennan Bernardino, Greg Weissert, Zack Kelly, Isaiah Campbell, and Wyatt Mills—combined for seven innings of work. Hendriks struggled in the third, surrendering a three-run homer, but the Mets were largely silenced until the eighth, when Campbell allowed a run before escaping a bases-loaded jam.
Yoshida set the tone early with a two-run ground-rule double on the first pitch of his first at-bat, ensuring Boston never trailed. He added an RBI single in the third to extend the lead to 5-3. Alex Bregman and Trevor Story also contributed multi-hit performances, with Bregman driving in his team-leading sixth RBI and Story notching his third spring double.
The Red Sox showcased a balanced approach at the plate, out-hitting the Mets 7-6 while drawing five walks and striking out just five times. Patience was key, as several hitters—including Ceddanne Rafaela, Triston Casas, and top prospect Roman Anthony—worked deep counts.
Manager Alex Cora remained tight-lipped about the Opening Day roster, emphasizing the importance of versatility and athleticism. “I have a pretty good idea of what I’m going to do,” Cora said, “but we’ve still got kids getting their first at-bats here. We’ll get there when we get there.”
With strong performances from newcomers and veterans alike, the Red Sox are building momentum as the regular season approaches.