BALTIMORE -- These were the Red Sox on Wednesday night -- the team that won the World Series last year, the team that was recognized by President Barack Obama on Tuesday.Unlike Opening Day, when the Sox bats were held mostly silent, there was timely thump en route to a 6-2 victory over the Orioles.David Ortiz, fresh off his selfie with President Obama, clubbed a two-run shot. So, too, did Mike Napoli, a day after Obama applauded his efforts while humorously mispronouncing his last name.And John Lackey, who was last seen beating the Cardinals in the World Series clincher, picked up right where he left off. 
The big righty was sharp in his first start of 2014, holding the Orioles to three hits and two runs over six innings. Lackey walked one and struck out six while pitching at a crisp pace.The bullpen, so reliable with the lead last year, looked familiarly effective in this one. The first pitcher out was the new guy, righty Edward Mujica, who fired a scoreless seventh.Junichi Tazawa took care of the eighth and handed off to closer Koji Uehara, who finished off the victory in a non-save situation.Ortiz got the Red Sox in gear in the third when he hit a towering two-run homer to right to break the scoreless tie. Dustin Pedroia, who had four hits on the night, started the rally with a single to left.The lead held up until the fourth, when Nelson Cruz victimized Boston for the second straight game, this time with a two-run shot to right that tied the game at 2.But yet again, the contest swung on a two-run homer, this time from Napoli. The slugger obliterated an 0-2 pitch to dead center with two outs in the fifth, making it 4-2, Boston.Making his first start for the Orioles, Ubaldo Jimenez gave up five hits and four runs over six innings, walking three and striking out six.With Ryan Webb on in relief in the seventh, the Red Sox went on the attack. Daniel Nava got things started with a one-out single. Pedroia followed with an infield hit in which third baseman Ryan Flaherty made an error, pushing runners to second and third.That led O's manager Buck Showalter to issue an intentional walk to Ortiz. Napoli capitalized, drilling a line single to left to open Boston's lead up to 6-2.Ian Browne / MLB.com
The big righty was sharp in his first start of 2014, holding the Orioles to three hits and two runs over six innings. Lackey walked one and struck out six while pitching at a crisp pace.The bullpen, so reliable with the lead last year, looked familiarly effective in this one. The first pitcher out was the new guy, righty Edward Mujica, who fired a scoreless seventh.Junichi Tazawa took care of the eighth and handed off to closer Koji Uehara, who finished off the victory in a non-save situation.Ortiz got the Red Sox in gear in the third when he hit a towering two-run homer to right to break the scoreless tie. Dustin Pedroia, who had four hits on the night, started the rally with a single to left.The lead held up until the fourth, when Nelson Cruz victimized Boston for the second straight game, this time with a two-run shot to right that tied the game at 2.But yet again, the contest swung on a two-run homer, this time from Napoli. The slugger obliterated an 0-2 pitch to dead center with two outs in the fifth, making it 4-2, Boston.Making his first start for the Orioles, Ubaldo Jimenez gave up five hits and four runs over six innings, walking three and striking out six.With Ryan Webb on in relief in the seventh, the Red Sox went on the attack. Daniel Nava got things started with a one-out single. Pedroia followed with an infield hit in which third baseman Ryan Flaherty made an error, pushing runners to second and third.That led O's manager Buck Showalter to issue an intentional walk to Ortiz. Napoli capitalized, drilling a line single to left to open Boston's lead up to 6-2.Ian Browne / MLB.com
If you enjoyed this article, please consider sharing it!
