MLB roundup: Cy Young runner-up Garrett Crochet leads Red Sox over Reds

Garrett Crochet pitched six scoreless innings and Ceddanne Rafaela broke a scoreless tie in the seventh with an RBI single to lead the visiting Boston Red Sox past the Cincinnati Reds 3-0 on Thursday in the season opener for both clubs. Roman Anthony had three hits, while Trevor Story and Jarren Duran added insurance RBI singles in the ninth. Crochet (1-0), the 2025 American League Cy Young runner-up, allowed three hits, walked two and struck out eight to earn the win.

Marcelo Mayer opened the seventh as a pinch-hitter against new Reds reliever Pierce Johnson (0-1) with a double to left-center, just beyond the diving reach of center fielder TJ Friedl. After moving to third on a sacrifice bunt, he scored on Rafaela's single. Sal Stewart overcame being drilled in the left wrist by an Anthony liner in the fifth to rack up three hits, becoming the first Cincinnati rookie since 1958 (when rookie rules were established) to record three hits on Opening Day.

His two-out ground-rule double – his second two-bagger of the game – to right set up a rematch of the World Baseball Classic title game when Eugenio Suarez beat Garrett Whitlock and Team USA with a go-ahead double in the 3-2 Venezuela win. This time, Whitlock fanned Suarez to end the eighth-inning threat. Former Cincinnati closer Aroldis Chapman came on and pitched a scoreless ninth for the save.

Cardinals 9, Rays 7 Alec Burleson capped an eight-run sixth inning with a two-run homer to help the St. Louis Cardinals rally for a 9-7 victory against the visiting Tampa Bay Rays in the season opener for both teams on Thursday afternoon. The Cardinals will be in Detroit a week from Friday for the Tigers' home opener at Comerica Park.