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Red Sox reactions: Ranger Suárez, trade addition allow 8 runs, 4 homers combined in debuts
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- Red Sox reactions: Ranger Suárez, trade addition allow 8 runs, 4 homers combined in debuts
HOUSTON — Instant reactions from the Red Sox ‘ 8-1 loss to the Houston Astros at Daikin Park on Monday:
1.The Red Sox dropped to 1-3, though there should be no cause for concern this early. Boston began last year 1-4 and went on to make the playoffs as a Wild Card team with 89 wins.
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2.Ranger Suárez struggled in his Red Sox debut after signing a five-year, $130 million contract in January. He pitched 4 ⅓ innings, allowing four runs, seven hits (two homers) and one walk while striking out three.
Suárez pitched out of trouble in the first inning after allowing three straight singles. He got Carlos Correa to ground into a double play, limiting the Astros to just one run.
He gave up a 394-foot two-run home run to Yordan Álvarez with no outs in the third after Jose Altuve led off with a single. He also allowed a 434-foot solo home run to Brice Matthews in the fourth inning.
3. Johan Oviedo , who the Red Sox acquired from the Pirates on Dec. 4, relieved Suárez. He struggled, too. The 6-foot-6 righty gave up four runs on six hits (two homers) and one walk while striking out three in 3 ⅔ innings. Oviedo gave up both his home runs to Altuve.
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4. Caleb Durbin is 0 for 14 with a walk and three strikeouts to begin his Red Sox career. Boston acquired the 26-year-old third baseman in a six-player trade with the Brewers on Feb. 9. He grounded into a 6-4-3 double play to end the fifth inning. Manager Alex Cora used Masataka Yoshida as a pinch hitter for Durbin in the seventh with two runners in scoring position and two outs.
5. Wilyer Abreu continued his strong start, ripping an RBI ground-rule double in the seventh to put the Red Sox on the board. He went 2 for 3. Through four games, he’s 8-for-16 (.500) with two home runs, three doubles, five RBIs, two runs and two strikeouts.
6.The Red Sox had a chance in the seventh after Abreu’s ground-rule double cut it to 5-1. With two runners in scoring position and two outs, pinch hitter Masataka Yoshida worked a full count but struck out swinging on a knuckle-curveball from Astros starter Lance McCullers Jr .
7.McCullers limited Boston to just one run, four hits and one walk while striking out nine over seven innings.
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8.The Red Sox stroked just four hits.
9.Boston and Houston will play the second game of their series at 8:10 p.m. ET. Red Sox righty Brayan Bello will make his 2026 debut against Houston righty Hunter Brown , who finished third for the 2025 AL Cy Young.
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