BOSTON STRONG -
THE ROAD TO REDEMPTION
Buchholz stifles the Yankees
as the Sox make it two 
in a row

April 3, 2013 ... Opening the season with two wins hardly seems monumental, but for the Red Sox of recent times, it is unfamiliar territory, and therefore, an accomplishment to enjoy. Backed by a steady supply of offense, Clay Buchholz pitched Boston to a 7-4 road victory over the injury-riddled Yankees on Wednesday night.

This is the first time the Red Sox have opened the season with back-to-back victories since the 1999 team, which got strong pitching performances by Pedro Martinez and Bret Saberhagen out of the gate. Jon Lester and Buchholz are the starters who have helped manager John Farrell to a successful start in his first two games as manager. After starting 2-10 in 2011 and 1-5 last year, this year's opening is a much better feeling for the Red Sox. You'd have to go back a lot further than 1999 to find the last time the Red Sox opened the season on the road and scored seven-plus runs in the first two games. That would be '19, Babe Ruth's final season in Boston. The 1995 Sox opened with nine-plus runs in two straight home games.

Backed by the hot start of Shane Victorino (4-for-11 in the first two games) and mixing in energetic young players Jackie Bradley Jr. (first Major League hit on Wednesday) and Jose Iglesias (2-for-4), the Red Sox have looked dynamic offensively.  Nor can you say enough about the pitching. Buchholz went seven innings while allowing six hits and one run. He walked two and struck out four.

In this one, the elements were perhaps Buchholz's toughest obstacle. The game-time temperature was 43 degrees, but it felt a lot cooler. Most Red Sox players wore ski masks to stay warm.  Despite an off-day on Tuesday, the Red Sox picked right up where they left off on Opening Day.

Designated hitter David Ortiz could return to the Red Sox lineup by the middle of this month and shortstop Stephen Drew is expected back as soon as Monday.  Both players are making rapid progress from their injuries. Drew, who suffered a concussion March 7, will start a rehabilitation assignment with Double A Portland Thursday.  Ortiz, who has been coming back from a small tear in his right Achilles' tendon, will return to the team complex in Fort Myers, Fla., Thursday and is tentatively scheduled to play in an extended spring training game Monday.