Opening Day didn’t go as planned for the Red Sox.

But Alex Cora’s squad certainly rebounded, and made a series victory official by way of a 9-5 victory over the Orioles in a Sunday showdown at Fenway Park.

• It was more than just your average series victory, you’d think, as it marked Boston’s first series victory over an American League East foe. That’s something that eluded the Red Sox until August last season.

  That wasn’t just a byproduct of the schedule in 2022, either, as the Sox dropped a staggering 12 series against divisional opponents until a series victory over the Yankees last August.

• Sox open up the season with a series win over an AL East opponent. Last year, their first series win against an AL East team happened Aug 12-14. #RedSox

  — Tom Caron (@TomCaron) April 3, 2023

• 

  Apr 2, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Enrique Hernandez (5) is congratulated after hitting a home run against the Baltimore Orioles in the second inning at Fenway Park. (David Butler II/USA TODAY Sports)

• It was Boston’s slugging that powered ’em to victory in this three-game set against the O’s, too, as they hammered Baltimore’s pitching for 27 runs.

  Offseason addition Adam Duvall was especially impactful in his debut series with the team, as he went 8-for-14 with two home runs and eight RBIs over the three-game series.

  It was also a two-homer series for shortstop Kiké Hernandez, with solo home runs both Saturday and Sunday, and three hits in nine at bats over the opening weekend of action.

• Adam Duvall just can't stop hitting. pic.twitter.com/p0Pej1cp0b

  — Red Sox (@RedSox) April 2, 2023

• At the plate, the Red Sox were borderline historic, as they became just the third team since 1901 to score nine runs in their first three games of the season.

  The 1978 Brewers and 1976 Reds are joined by the 2023 Red Sox as the only teams since 1901 to score as many as nine runs in the first three games of the season.

  — Ian Browne (@IanMBrowne) April 2, 2023

  It was also a solid MLB debut series for Masataka Yoshida, as the Japanese outfielder and star offseason signing built off a strong 2023 World Baseball Classic showing with a 4-for-13 effort and three RBIs.

• 

  Mar 30, 2023; Boston, Massachusetts, USA; Boston Red Sox left fielder Masataka Yoshida (7) makes a hit against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park. (Eric Canha/USA TODAY Sports)

• The Red Sox’ pitching, however, had its struggles.

  On the heels of Corey Kluber’s inefficient Opening Day outing, Chris Sale got tagged for seven runs on seven hits (three home runs) in three innings of work on Saturday, while Tanner Houck had the ‘best’ start of the weekend with three runs on five hits (two home runs) in five innings en route to a Sunday win.

  The Red Sox will look for a ‘get right’ series on the mound when the Pirates, who hit just .196 in their season-opening series with the Reds, come to Fenway for a three-game set beginning Monday night.

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