Red Sox Win Series Opener Against Padres

The Red Sox win the series opener thanks to six efficient innings from Sonny Gray, and home runs from Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer.

Photo by Brian Fluharty/Getty Images

April 3, 2026

Red Sox 5, Padres 2

The Boston Red Sox win the series opener against the San Diego Padres 5-2 on Friday afternoon at Fenway Park. Sonny Gray was much improved from his Red Sox debut against the Cincinnati Reds. He pitched six innings, gave up two runs, and allowed only four hits with three strikeouts.

The Red Sox scored three runs in the sixth inning to break a 2-2 tie, with Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer notching their first home runs of the year.

Red Sox-Padres Game Summary

It took until the third inning for the Red Sox to record their first hit. Fortunately, their follow-up was just as good. Marcelo Mayer led off the third with a double off the Green Monster. Two batters later, Ceddanne Rafaela hit a single up the middle to take a 1-0 lead.

After a 1-2-3 top of the fourth from Sonny Gray, Jarren Duran started the inning with another leadoff double. After strikeouts from Contreras and Wilyer Abreu, Caleb Durbin stepped to the plate to try and finally notch his first hit. He did just that, with a single up the middle to go up 2-0.

After Rafaela lost a ball in the sun, Miguel Andujar got himself a triple in the top of the fifth. Gavin Sheets came up next and lined a single to right field to cut the deficit to 2-1. Two batters later, Luis Campusano hit a double off the Monster to tie the score at two.

Despite a one-out single from Roman Anthony, Trevor Story would ground into a 4-3 double play after a web gem diving play from Jake Cronenworth. But Gray pitched phenomenally in the sixth inning, so it didn’t translate to offensive momentum for the Padres.

Sixth Inning Surge

Contreras took back the lead with a 423-foot home run off of Michael King over the monster to take back the lead 3-2. Three batters later, with Abreu on first, Mayer came up to bat. Wandy Peralta came in for the lefty-lefty matchup.

Unfortunately for the Padres, Mayer was keyed in on a low sinker. Mayer smacked the ball over the low right field fence and the outstretched glove of Fernando Tatis Jr. for his first bomb of the season. This made the score 5-2 Red Sox through six innings.

From there, the Red Sox bullpen shut the Padres down in the last third of the game. Greg Weissert notched his first scoreless outing in the seventh inning. Justin Slaten did the same in the eighth. Finally, Aroldis Chapman, despite walking Manny Machado with two outs, got the save. Chapman moves to 11th all-time in career saves, breaking the 368-save tie with Jonathan Papelbon.

What Went Right for the Red Sox

Gray’s Bounce Back

Gray pitched just like how fans should’ve expected him to pitch. Competitive innings, and giving the Sox offense a chance to take the lead. All the while giving the bullpen a chance to close it out.

Durbin No Longer Hitless

Durbin was 0-for-19 entering his second at-bat of the game. After his RBI single in the fourth inning, Red Sox fans hope Durbin can return to his form from 2025.