Red Sox Win AL Division Series Opener 12-2

The Boston Red Sox opened the American League Division Series with a 12-2 drubbing of the Tampa Bay Rays Friday afternoon at Fenway Park.

In the bottom of the fourth inning, Tampa Bay right fielder Wil Myers misjudged a David Ortiz fly ball, turning it into a double and setting the stage for Boston to score five runs. With the Sox ahead 5-2, starter and winning pitcher Jon Lester retired the next nine Rays batters.

Boston manager John Farrell says a pitcher’s first inning after taking the lead is critical.

“That’s the most important inning in the game, is to maintain the momentum, put up a zero after we score. And we were able to come back with three more runs in the bottom half of that next inning,” Farrell said.

Game 2 of best-of-five series is set for Saturday afternoon at Fenway. John Lackey will start for the Red Sox, David Price for the Rays.