Red Sox vs. Reds Final Score, Highlights: Crochet, Anthony Shine in Boston’s Opening Day Win originally appeared on NESN.
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Garrett Crochet picked up exactly where his 2025 campaign left off, delivering a masterpiece at Great American Ball Park to lead the Red Sox to a 3-0 Opening Day victory over the Reds.
After a season in which he led the majors with 255 strikeouts, the towering lefty performed like an ace, stifling Cincinnati’s bats with eight strikeouts over six scoreless frames. His dominance provided the perfect foundation for a Boston team looking to prove that last year’s late-season surge was only the beginning of a new era.
It was a tense pitching duel between Crochet and Andrew Abbott until the seventh inning when Ceddanne Rafaela finally broke the tie with an RBI single. The Red Sox added two insurance runs in the ninth, and Aroldis Chapman closed the door on the Reds.
Roman Anthony was a bright spot at the top of Boston’s lineup, finishing the day with three hits in four at-bats.
From Crochet’s brilliance to Rafaela’s big single, check out the highlights from the Red Sox’s Opening Day win.
Red Sox vs. Reds score
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | F | |
| Red Sox | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 2 | 3 |
| Reds | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 |
Red Sox vs. Reds live updates, highlights from 2026 Opening Day game
(All times Eastern)
Final: Red Sox 3, Reds 0
6:44 p.m.: It’s a shutout win for the Red Sox.
Ceddanne Rafaela’s RBI single in the seventh broke the deadlock after a spectacular Crochet performance, then two insurance runs in the ninth put the game to bed.
6:43 p.m.: Cincinnati is down to its final out. Aroldis Chapman will face Dane Myers.
Red Sox 3, Reds 0
6:36 p.m.: It’s a two-run ninth for Boston with Duran now getting a RBI single. This one brings home Anthony, who got on with a walk.
Red Sox 2, Reds 0
6:34 p.m.: Story didn’t have a hit today, but he changes that with a huge RBI single.
6:32 p.m.: Anthony walks, and the Red Sox have two runners on in the ninth.
6:28 p.m.: Boston has a man on to start the ninth with Mayer singling to left. He’s now 2-for-2 on the day.
End of the eighth inning: Red Sox 1, Reds 0
6:24 p.m.: The Reds have a man on second with Stewart hitting a ground-rule double. But Garrett Whitlock gets out of the inning, striking out Suarez.
6:17 p.m.: Boston can’t get eighth-inning insurance with Abreu grounding out to second.
6:15 p.m.: The Red Sox have a man on in the eighth with Durbin walking on a full count.
End of the seventh inning: Red Sox 1, Reds 0
6:06 p.m.: After the leadoff man gets on, Slaten strikes out Hayes to end the inning. We’re through seven.
6:04 p.m.: Slaten gets Will Benson, who is pinch hitting for Marte, to strike out swinging, and there’s one out in the inning. Then, Hayes flies out to Anthony.
6:01 p.m.: Crochet is done for the day after allowing no runs on three hits while striking out eight. What a performance by the reigning MLB strikeouts leader.
Justin Slaten is in the game, and he walks Stephenson to start the seventh.
5:54 p.m.: Story grounds out, but the Red Sox go to the bottom of the seventh with a 1-0 lead. Rafaela broke the tie with his RBI single after the Mayer double.
5:53 p.m.: With Rafaela on first, Anthony strikes out for the first time today, and there are two outs in the top of the seventh.
Red Sox 1, Reds 0
5:50 p.m.: It might have taken a bit, but the Red Sox are on the board on Opening Day.
It’s Rafaela who does it, getting on top of a fastball and driving it right over second base. The RBI single breaks the 0-0 tie as Boston takes the lead in Cincinnati.
5:47 p.m.: Marcelo Mayer comes into the game, and he gives the Red Sox their first extra-base hit of the afternoon.
Marcelo Mayer comes off the bench and delivers in the 7th with a double for his first hit of the 2026 season #DirtyWaterpic.twitter.com/Mo71uwGIla
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) March 26, 2026
Then, Abreu bunts, moving Mayer to third with one out in the top of the seventh.
End of the sixth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
5:44 p.m.: Garrett Crochet shows why he’s one of the best in the business.
Facing a bases-loaded jam with one out, Crochet strikes out both Suarez and Steer.
Bases loaded?
Crochet says 🤫 with back-to-back Ks 🔥 pic.twitter.com/ZuGhshpv5U
— NESN (@NESN) March 26, 2026
5:41 p.m.: Crochet strikes out Suarez with a cutter, and there are two outs in the inning. Here comes Steer.
5:40 p.m.: The bases are loaded with Stewart hitting a single to right field. Suarez comes up to the plate looking to bring in the first run.
5:39 p.m.: Crochet issues his second walk of the day, this one to McLain. Then, De La Cruz lines the first pitch into center field for a one-out single.
5:34 p.m.: Neither team can get on the board with Abbott striking out Abreu to close out a 1-2-3 inning.
End of the fifth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
5:27 p.m.: The Reds have a runner on with Tyler Stephenson hitting a single to left field. Crochet is up to 56 pitches on the day.
Crochet then gets his sixth strikeout of the day, catching Marte looking. A flyout to Roman Anthony ends the inning.
5:24 p.m.: To start the bottom of the fifth, Crochet gets Spencer Steer to strike out.
5:20 p.m.: Boston has had base runners plenty of times today, but it can’t get on the board. Duran strikes out swinging as the Red Sox strand two more runners in the fifth.
5:18 p.m.: Story is now 0-for-3 on the day, striking out on a high fastball.
5:14 p.m.: With Rafaela on first, Anthony drills a ball to first right at Stewart. The ball smacks him in the forearm.
I’ve never seen this before — Roman almost broke the 1B’s wrist with a line drive pic.twitter.com/bANiIE1EqH
— Bill Simmons (@BillSimmons) March 26, 2026
Anthony is 3-for-3 on the day, and the Red Sox have two runners on with one out in the fifth. The primary concern, though, is the status of Stewart, who is being evaluated by the training staff.
End of the fourth inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
5:08 p.m.: It looked like Crochet threw a ball, but after the first successful ABS challenge for the Red Sox, the star completes his third 1-2-3 inning.
5:04 p.m.: To start the fourth, Crochet gets De La Cruz to swing on a low sweeper, then Stewart grounds out on the first pitch.
5:01 p.m.: Both Abreu and Kiner-Falefa ground out in consecutive at-bats, and the Red Sox are through four innings scoreless.
4:59 p.m.: The fourth inning starts with a Durbin flyout to right, bringing up Wilyer Abreu.
End of the third inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
4:57 p.m.: It’s a 1-2-3 inning for Crochet, who gets McLain to strike out swinging to end the third.
Garrett Crochet Cutter Remains filthy to end the third inning with another K and a 1-2-3 inning by Crochet #DirtyWaterpic.twitter.com/ZDeDdQOLZt
— Lucasparmenter23 (@Lucasparmenter0) March 26, 2026
4:50 p.m.: After a seven-pitch at-bat, Contreras grounds out on a fastball.
4:45 p.m.: Anthony is 2-for-2 on the day, hitting a leadoff single for the second time.
End of the second inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
4:41 p.m.: Crochet gets out of the jam, striking out Noelvi Marte with two runners on.
4:35 p.m.: The Reds have their first hit of the game with Sal Stewart hitting a double to left-center field.
4:32 p.m.: Boston grounds into its second double play of the day with Ceddanne Rafaela hitting the ball right to Elly De La Cruz, who turns a 6-4-3 double play.
4:29 p.m.: Boston has two on with Carlos Narvaez hitting an opposite field single. Boston is in business with one out.
4:27 p.m.: For the second straight inning, Boston has the lead runner on with Abreu outrunning Abbott to first base for an infield single.
End of the first inning: Red Sox 0, Reds 0
4:23 p.m.: Crochet picks up right where he left off, pitching a scoreless first inning.
4:20 p.m.: Caleb Durbin grounds out to second, ending the top of the first with the Red Sox unable to capitalize.
4:18 p.m.: Boston has a runner in scoring position in the first with Duran stealing his first base of the season. Then, Abbott walks Contreras on four pitches.
4:15 p.m.: Now, Jarren Duran is on base, reaching on an infield single. Terry Francona challenges, but the call stands.
4:13 p.m.: Boston has a runner on to start the game with Anthony lacing the first hit of the season. But Trevor Story hits a ground ball to short, and it’s a double play.
4:10 p.m.: First pitch is moments away. First up for the Red Sox is Roman Anthony.
4:03 p.m.: It’s almost time in Cincinnati.
⏳Pronto… pic.twitter.com/SAecO0xjB5
— Red Sox de Boston (@RedSoxBeisbol) March 26, 2026
3:49 p.m.: Crochet’s 2025 season was a statistical masterpiece, as he led the entire major leagues with 255 strikeouts and finished second in AL Cy Young Award voting. In his first year with Boston, he became the first pitcher since 2019 to record over 250 strikeouts with an ERA below 2.75, anchoring the rotation with a career-high 205.1 innings pitched.
3:32 p.m.: Here is the Red Sox’s lineup for Game 1:
Game No. 1 pic.twitter.com/A8vKqIO5E8
— Red Sox (@RedSox) March 26, 2026
3:26 p.m.: Happy Opening Day, Boston. Your Red Sox play baseball today.
Garrett Crochet will take the mound today, leading a new-look Red Sox rotation against the Reds.
How to watch Red Sox vs. Reds today: TV channel, live stream
Red Sox vs. Reds will air locally on NESN. Those looking to stream the game can watch on NESN 360 or Fubo.
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Red Sox vs. Reds start time
- Date: Thursday, March 26
- Time: 4:10 p.m. ET
Red Sox vs. Reds is scheduled to start at 4:10 p.m. ET on Thursday, March 26. The game will be played at the Great American Ball Park in Cincinnati.
Red Sox regular season schedule 2026
Here are Boston’s first 10 games of the 2026 regular season:
| Date | Game | Time (ET) | TV/Live Stream |
| March 26 | at Reds | 4:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| March 28 | at Reds | 4:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| March 29 | at Reds | 1:40 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| March 30 | at Astros | 8:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| March 31 | at Astros | 8:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| April 1 | at Astros | 2:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| April 3 | vs. Padres | 2:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| April 4 | vs. Padres | 4:10 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| April 5 | vs. Padres | 1:35 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |
| April 6 | vs. Brewers | 6:45 p.m. | NESN, NESN 360, Fubo |