Make it a pair - Sox start 2-0 vs. Yankees


Admit it. It may be only two games, but this Red Sox team has been fun to watch. Whether it's the lack of Bobby V running the show, or the presence of Jackie Bradley Jr., the start to the 2013 baseball season has been very entertaining. Of course, it doesn't hurt that the Red Sox have beat up on the Yankees twice already, including tonight's 7-4 win in the Bronx.

Clay Buchholz (pictured), making his 1st start of the season following a stellar spring training, threw 7 very strong innings allowing 1 run on 6 hits and a pair of walks. He threw 62 of his 94 pitches for strikes and changed speeds very effectively. In particular, his curve ball had a ridiculous break to it. The one run he allowed was on a solo home run by Travis Hafner in the bottom of the 4th inning.

Boston scored in each of the first 3 innings with single runs in the 1st and 2nd (RBI single by Jarrod Saltalamacchia and Daniel Nava HBP RBI) and 4 runs in the 3rd inning highlighted by RBI singles by Shane Victorino and Jackie Bradley Jr. For JBJ it was his 1st career hit.

NOTES - Daniel Nava, Dustin Pedroia, Jarrod Saltalamacchia, Shane Victorino, and Jose Iglesias all had multi-hit games. Alfredo Aceves made things interesting in the bottom of the 8th inning, allowing a 3-run blast to Vernon Wells. Joel Hanrahan pitched a scoreless 9th to seal the win.  Yankee starter Hiroki Kuroda left the game in the top of the 2nd inning after a hard hit single by Victorino nipped a finger on his pitching hand.

Follow Jim Monaghan on twitter - @Monaghan21.