The Boston Red Sox ambushed the Cincinnati Reds with a seven-run first inning, a lead that would prove insurmountable as they cruised to a 7-0 victory in the series opener at Fenway Park on Monday night. The loss marks a rocky start to the three-game set for the visiting Reds.
The Red Sox offense came out swinging against Reds' starting pitcher Chase Burns, who was chased from the game after failing to record a single out in the bottom of the first. The onslaught was swift and decisive. The scoring was highlighted by a three-run home run from shortstop Trevor Story that sent the Fenway faithful into a frenzy.
Further compounding the Reds' early woes were timely RBI singles from David Hamilton and Roman Anthony, which helped to cap the explosive inning for Boston.
Garrett Crochet, the starting pitcher for the Red Sox, took full advantage of the substantial run support. The left-hander and his subsequent relievers faced little resistance from a Reds lineup that was unable to generate any offense, resulting in a shutout.
The Reds will look to even the series on Tuesday, July 1st, in the second game of the interleague matchup. They will need their bats to wake up if they hope to overcome the momentum the Red Sox built in this dominant series-opening performance. The final game of the series is scheduled for Wednesday, July 2nd.
