BETTER BOSTON: Jonny Gomes, pumping his fist after scoring in the ninth inning of yesterday’s win over the Yankees, helped the Red Sox already improve on last season’s 0-3 start. (
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The Red Sox still may endure another season of misery, but it won’t be just like last year.
After opening last season 0-3 on their way to 69 wins and the franchise’s worst campaign since 1965, Boston opened the season yesterday with an 8-2 win at Yankee Stadium. Afterward, smiles circulated the visitors’ clubhouse as if 2012 never happened.
“I think whether you’re talking about individuals or a team collectively, when you have success early in the year, certainly the confidence is going to grow,” first-year Red Sox manager John Farrell said. “Particularly with this team, there’s a number of new faces. There’s a lot of talk about chemistry, but wins are certainly the biggest factor with chemistry and how we gel as a unit.”
Boston’s new voice got results from the new faces — young and old.
Former Phillie Shane Victorino went 2-for-6 with three RBIs. Designated hitter Jonny Gomes went 2-for-4 with a run. Shortstop Jose Iglesias, 23, who had appeared in just 35 games before yesterday, went 3-for-5 with an RBI.
And left fielder Jackie Bradley Jr. looked like a veteran in his career debut. The left-handed hitter showed uncanny patience against southpaw CC Sabathia, drawing three walks, scoring two runs and sparking a four-run rally in the second inning by beating out a force play at second base on a grounder in the hole to shortstop Eduardo Nunez. Bradley also displayed the defense that earned him a promotion, making a difficult backtracking catch on a liner from Robinson Cano to end the third inning.
“Jackie impacted the game in a number of different ways,” Farrell said. “Probably the key to that four-run second inning was Jackie beating out that throw to second base to not only extend the inning but give us a chance to put up a crooked number.”
Boston’s beginning to a potential bounce-back season began with a pitcher looking to return to form. Lefty Jon Lester, who had a career-worst nine wins and 4.82 ERA last year, kept the injury-plagued Yankees offense to what was expected of it.
The 29-year-old did not give up a hit over the first three innings, and lasted five innings, allowing two runs and two walks while striking out seven.
“It’s good, especially after the last couple years, to get that first one off our back,” said Lester. “Now, we’ve got to come back [tomorrow] and do it again.”
One game turns the focus from the past to the future. And for some members of the Red Sox, the former isn’t even an option.
“I don’t know [the past] in total detail,” Bradley said. “I wasn’t a part of what happened then, but we’re leaving that in the past and focusing on what we can control now.”
howard.kussoy@nypost.com