TORONTO — The Red Sox scored 28 runs in their first four games. In the fifth game, they scored none.
The good thing for the Red Sox is they will be playing their home opener Monday against the Baltimore Orioles.
David Price will be on the mound, Boston’s prize offseason signing, so it figures that the Red Sox will not have to score at the rate they did in the first four games before right-hander Marco Estrada and the Toronto Blue Jays bullpen shut them down in a 3-0 loss on Sunday.
Price has pitched 11 times during the regular season and once in the postseason at Fenway Park but never on Opening Day.
“That will be very exciting,” the left-hander said. “I’ve never been to Fenway for an Opening Day, so to be wearing Boston red, that will be a very special day.”
He signed a seven-year contract worth $217 million with Boston and he is 6-2 with a 2.56 earned-run average at Fenway Park. He has allowed two or fewer earned runs in 10 of his 12 starts at Fenway.
“I love the mound, first and foremost,” Price said. “It’s definitely a big factor. I feel like I’m extremely close to the catcher. That’s not always the same in every ballpark, how far the backstop is to the catcher and that umpire. It plays a little bit differently in different parks. I’m really close to the catcher, and it’s a comfort thing.”
While Price will experience his first home opener at Fenway, designated hitter David Ortiz will be participating in his last one as a player. He plans to retire at the end of the season.
There will be a huge ovation. “I would think so,” Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “But I don’t necessarily think that changes our approach in any way. David always draws the camera or draws the attention or the spotlight wherever he goes. We’ve been accustomed to that for quite some time. But I think for those that will be in the stands tomorrow, maybe the first, last time for David. But hopefully we’re going to get a year full of that excitement as he closes things out.”
The Red Sox come home with three wins in five games. With the two Davids having bookend home openers, the chances are good for a fourth win.