Feeling at home: Red Sox chase first series win in matchup vs. Padres

A little home cooking was just what the Boston Red Sox needed.

After carrying a five-game skid back to Fenway Park, Boston will aim to follow its 5-2 Friday win when a three-game, home-opening series continues against the San Diego Padres on Saturday afternoon.

Both teams still are seeking their first series win of the young season.

Friday's victory was much needed for the Red Sox, who were more than a week removed from their Opening Day victory at Cincinnati. Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer (2-for-2) broke open a tied game with sixth-inning home runs after Sonny Gray turned in a quality start.

"Obviously, we love playing here," Mayer said. "This city is amazing."

Now, Boston is scheduled to hand the ball to 24-year-old left-hander Connelly Early (0-0, 1.69 ERA) for his sixth career start. Early will take his second turn in the rotation this season following six innings of two-run ball from Gray.

"That's what we expect -- go out there, pitch, play decent defense, and timely hitting," Red Sox manager Alex Cora said. "I think everything starts with pitching. That's who we're gonna be. (Friday) was a fun day at the ballpark."

Early threw 5 1/3 innings of one-run ball with six strikeouts in his season debut last Sunday against the Reds. Incredibly, he became the youngest Boston pitcher to strike out at least five and allow one or fewer runs within the first three games of a season since Babe Ruth in 1916.

The effort continued Early's consistent start at the big-league level, as he has a 2.19 ERA through 24 2/3 career innings. Saturday will mark his first-ever interleague start.

The Padres, who have yet to post back-to-back wins this season, were limited to four hits Friday during their third loss in as many series openers. Wednesday's 7-1 win over the San Francisco Giants remains the only game in which the Padres have scored more than three runs.

"I'm sure that's natural for every hitter -- to hit line drives and not get a hit, look at your average on the scoreboard and press a little bit," San Diego manager Craig Stammen said. "We've got to keep preaching that they're swinging well, they're hitting the ball hard and eventually they'll fall."

Despite the team's overall struggles, Gavin Sheets continues to break out of an early-season slump. The first baseman had two hits, scored a run and drove in another, making him 5-for-10 since an 0-for-10 showing through four games.

One struggling Padre is shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who is just 4-for-28 with one extra-base hit after going 0-for-4 in his first career game against the Red Sox at Fenway.

Right-hander Randy Vasquez (1-0, 0.00 ERA) will look to duplicate San Diego's best start yet when he takes the mound on Saturday. He struck out eight and allowed just two hits across six scoreless innings in last Saturday's 3-0 shutout of the Detroit Tigers.

"Tremendous," Padres outfielder Ramon Laureano said of Vasquez's season debut. "He has (strikeout stuff) in his pocket. And then in his other pocket, he has a bunch of ground balls, too."

Vasquez, who began his career with the New York Yankees in 2023, has made two career starts against the Red Sox. He did not record a decision in either game, pitching to a 3.52 ERA in 7 2/3 innings.

--Field Level Media