TOKYO — Manny Ramirez hit a two-run double in the 10th inning, and the Boston Red Sox began their World Series title defense by beating the Oakland Athletics 6-5 Tuesday in the opening game of the Major League Baseball season.
Ramirez posed at the plate to watch his drive off Huston Street (0-1), thinking it was a three-run homer. Instead, the ball hit the center-field wall.
In the earliest major league opener, and the third in Japan, Jonathan Papelbon struggled before getting the save. He walked Daric Barton leading off the bottom of the10th and gave up a one-out RBI double to Emil Brown, who was tagged out in a rundown between second and third.
After a pair of singles, Kurt Suzuki hit a game-ending groundout, sealing the win for Japanese reliever Hideki Okajima (1-0).
Street gave up a tying homer in the ninth to Brandon Moss, who started because right fielder J.D. Drew was scratched with lower back tightness. It was Moss’ first major league homer.
Boston’s starting pitcher, Daisuke Matsuzaka, former star of the Seibu Lions, allowed a pair of first-inning runs, one on a homer by Mark Ellis. He struck out six and walked five in five innings.
Jack Hannahan’s two-run homer off Kyle Snyder put Oakland ahead 4-3 in the sixth.
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