Red Sox celebrate Fenway opener with Devers busting out and Bregman feeling at home in Boston

1 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox’s Trevor Story reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

2 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu reacts after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

3 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu reacts after hitting a home run in the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

4 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox second base Kristian Campbell dives towards home plate to score during the third inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

5 of 11 |

St. Louis Cardinals’ Victor Scott II (11) runs to the plate to score during the third inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

6 of 11 |

St. Louis Cardinals’ Jordan Walker, left, greets St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera after Herrera hit a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

7 of 11 |

St. Louis Cardinals’ Iván Herrera runs the bases after hitting a home run during the fourth inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

8 of 11 |

St. Louis Cardinals pitcher Erick Fedde throws from the mound during the first inning of a baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

9 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox pitcher Walker Buehler throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

10 of 11 |

Boston Red Sox’s Wilyer Abreu (52) wears a mascot head in the dugout after hitting a home run during the first inning of a baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

11 of 11 |

Former Boston Red Sox outfielder Carl Yastrzemski, left, and catcher Carlton Fisk acknowledge fans as they walk onto the field prior to a home-opener baseball game against the St. Louis Cardinals, Friday, April 4, 2025, in Boston. (AP Photo/Mark Stockwell)

By JIMMY GOLEN

BOSTON (AP) — Rafael Devers reached base four times in his return to Boston after a season-opening slump and Alex Bregman had two hits in his first home game at Fenway Park to help the Red Sox beat the St. Louis Cardinals 13-9 on Friday.

Boston began its 125th home opener by scoring five runs in the first inning, including back-to-back homers by Trevor Story and Wilyer Abreu. The Cardinals cut it to 6-5 in the fifth, but the Red Sox pulled away again, with Devers’ RBI single capping a three-run seventh that made it 11-6.

Walker Buehler (1-1) allowed five runs and seven hits in five innings to help Boston earn its third straight victory.

Brendan Donovan, Alec Burleson and Iván Herrera had three hits apiece for the Cardinals, who have lost three of their last four. Erick Fedde (1-1) lasted three innings, allowing six runs on five hits and four walks while striking out one.

St. Louis scored three in the ninth on three hits and two errors before Aroldis Chapman came in with two on and one out. He walked the bases full before inducing a double play from Iván Herrera to earn his second save.

The Red Sox improved to 73-52 in home openers, including 64-50 at Fenway Park. Before the game, Boston honored its 1975 AL championship team, with a special tribute to pitcher Luis Tiant, who died in October.

Not PARSE.LY: Rafael Devers

Toronto Blue Jays first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr (27) slides safely into second base with a double ahead of a tag by Washington Nationals shortstop C.J. Abrams (5) in fifth inning MLB action in Toronto on Wednesday April 2, 2025. (Jon Blacker/The Canadian Press via AP)

Jays beat Nats for 3-game sweep

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Garrett Crochet throws during the first inning of a baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Wednesday, April 2, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Nick Wass)

Garrett Crochet throws a career-high 8 innings as the Red Sox blank the Orioles 3-0

Baltimore Orioles' Cedric Mullins advances toward first base after hitting a two-run RBI double during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Boston Red Sox, Monday, March 31, 2025, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Stephanie Scarbrough)

Orioles score 4 in both the 1st and the 8th, top the Red Sox 8-5 in Baltimore’s home opener

Key moment

After leading 5-0, the Red Sox had just a 6-5 edge when Bregman, who was acquired as a free agent in the offseason, led off the fifth with a walk. He took third on Triston Casas’ double and scored on Abreu’s single.

Kristian Campbell followed with a high fly ball down the line that right fielder Jordan Walker caught amid the first row of the seats in foul territory; Casas tagged up and scored from third. The Cardinals argued that a fan prevented Walker from throwing the ball home, but a review reviewed that it was not interference.

Key stat

Devers opened the season hitless with 15 strikeouts in his first five games. Since then, he is 5 for 11 with one strikeout in three games.

Up next

Right-hander Andre Pallante (1-0) is scheduled to face Boston righty Richard Fitts (0-1). Rain is in the forecast.

___

AP MLB: https://apnews.com/hub/mlb