Tyler O'Neill homers for record-setting 5th straight opening day as Red Sox top Mariners 6-4

SEATTLE (AP) — Tyler O’Neill set some unlikely baseball history on opening day in the stadium he visited almost yearly as a kid growing up in British Columbia. And it came against the team that drafted him more than a decade ago.

“Baseball is a funny game,” O'Neill said. “It brings everything home like that.”

O'Neill homered in his fifth straight opening day game to set a major league record and helped the Boston Red Sox beat the Seattle Mariners 6-4 on Thursday night.

Rafael Devers homered and doubled off Seattle ace Luis Castillo, but it was O’Neill’s homer on the first pitch from Cody Bolton in the eighth inning that gave the Red Sox a 6-4 lead and made history.

O’Neill homered the previous four opening days with St. Louis, tying him with Todd Hundley (1994-97), Gary Carter (1977-80) and Yogi Berra (1955-58). He was a top prospect in the Mariners organization before being traded to St. Louis in 2017.

And it came in front of a large contingent of family and friends from British Columbia who made the trip down to see O'Neill's first game in a Red Sox uniform.

“You always want to kick the season off with a bang,” O'Neill said. “Fortunately, I've been able to do it a couple times in row now. Just having a lot of fun out there.”

The homers and some solid pitching helped Boston manager Alex Cora enjoy his first opening day win as a manager.

Devers hit an opposite-field two-run homer on an elevated fastball from Castillo in the third inning and his one-out double in the fifth helped lead to another run for Boston. Connor Wong added a two-out RBI single in the sixth on a pitch well off the plate.

“He was able to drive the ball to left-center, something that he wasn't able to do last year," Cora said of Devers. “That homer was impressive.”

Boston starter Brayan Bello (1-0) pitched five innings and limited the damage to Mitch Haniger’s two-run homer after he spent last season with San Francisco. Kenley Jansen pitched the ninth for the save after recording 29 last season for Boston.

Dylan Moore's pinch-hit, two run homer in the seventh inning pulled Seattle within 5-4, but that’s as close as Seattle would get. Two of Seattle’s big offseason additions, Jorge Polanco and Mitch Garver, both experienced some of the frustration that comes with playing at home early in the season. Each hit deep fly balls that likely would have been homers in their former parks, but instead became outs.

“They got some hits with two outs, RBI hits, and those are huge. They're difference makers,” Seattle manager Scott Servais said. “Not the way we wanted to start. We have a lot of games to go. We have a good team.”

Castillo (0-1) labored through five innings as his control got away from him at times, missing with a number of borderline pitches. Castillo, who needed 91 pitches to get through the fifth, gave up four runs and six hits.

TRAINER’S ROOM

Red Sox: RHP Liam Hendriks was placed on the 60-day IL as he continues recovery from Tommy John surgery. ... LHP Chris Murphy was also played on the 60-day IL with a UCL sprain. ... RHP Bryan Mata (hamstring) was placed on the 15-day IL. ... IF Vaughn Grissom (hamstring) and OF Rob Refsnyder (toe) were placed on the 10-day IL.

Mariners: IF/OF Sam Haggerty (undisclosed medical procedure) was placed on the 10-day injured list to begin the season. ... RHPs Matt Brash (elbow strain), Bryan Woo (elbow inflammation), Gregory Santos (lat strain) and Eduardo Bazardo (rotator cuff strain) were placed on the 15-day IL. ... Veteran IF Brian Anderson was released, but agreed to a minor-league contract and was assigned to Triple-A Tacoma.

UP NEXT

A pair of right-handers will face off as Nick Pivetta starts for Boston while George Kirby takes the hill for Seattle.

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Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez runs the base path after hitting a double as Boston Red Sox second baseman Enmanuel Valdez waits for the throw to the infield during the first inning of an opening day baseball game, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners starting pitcher Luis Castillo throws against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of an opening day baseball game, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boston Red Sox starting pitcher Brayan Bello throws against the Seattle Mariners during the first inning of an opening day baseball game, Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Mitch Haniger gets a standing ovation from fans as he approaches the plate to bat against the Boston Red Sox during the second inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers, right, celebrates his two-run home run with Enmanuel Valdez, left, next to Seattle Mariners catcher Cal Raleigh during the third inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Jorge Polanco, left, reacts to hitting a single, next to Boston Red Sox second baseman Enmanuel Valdez during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Seattle Mariners' Julio Rodríguez reacts to hitting a double against the Boston Red Sox during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers is greeted in the dugout after his two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boston Red Sox's Rafael Devers gestures while running the bases on a two-run home run against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill nears home after hitting a home run against the Seattle Mariners during the eighth inning of an opening-day baseball game Thursday, March 28, 2024, in Seattle. (AP Photo/Lindsey Wasson)

PHOENIX (AP) — Anthony Edwards hit a jumper late in the fourth quarter and snarled as he ran down the court, pounding his chest with his fist for emphasis as Minnesota pulled away for another dominant playoff win.

The Timberwolves are the undeniable alpha dogs through three games of this increasingly lopsided series.

Edwards scored 36 points, Rudy Gobert added 19 points and 14 rebounds and the Timberwolves used a hot-shooting third quarter to beat the Phoenix Suns 126-109 on Friday night and take a 3-0 lead in the first-round matchup.

“We're just embracing the moment,” Gobert said. “We have only one goal in mind and we're trying to make sure we don't get distracted by the success or the ups and downs. We're just locked in.”

Minnesota goes for the sweep in Game 4 on Sunday in Phoenix.

The Wolves never trailed on Friday.

“This is a team you need to dictate terms with,” Minnesota coach Chris Finch said. “You don't want to get behind big on them because of the way they can shoot the ball. That's been part of our messaging, part of our emphasis, we have to get off to good starts.”

It was the third straight game the Wolves used a big third to turn a tight game into a comfortable victory. Minnesota hit 7 of 11 3-pointers during the surge, including four from Nickeil Alexander-Walker, to take a 22-point lead into the fourth.

Bradley Beal led the Suns with 28 points while Kevin Durant had 25 and Devin Booker 23. The rest of the team scored just 33 points.

The 7-foot-1 Gobert said he's noticed the Suns being hesitant to drive in the lane when he's there.

“That's what I do best,” Gobert said. “I try to be a presence, give confidence to my teammates, making sure I'm there for them. I'm trying to get some blocks, but they don't really try me. So at the end of the day, that's better than any block.”

Minnesota had a six-point halftime lead and stretched its advantage to 69-58 early in the third after back-to-back 3-pointers from Mike Conley and Karl-Anthony Towns. Late in the third, Alexander-Walker hit his fourth 3-pointer of the quarter for a 95-73 lead.

The Wolves were also dominant on the glass, finishing with a 50-28 rebounding advantage. Edwards shot 12 of 23 from the field and hit all 11 of his free throws while adding nine rebounds and five assists.

“We got killed on the boards. This is a bigger, stronger team,” Suns coach Frank Vogel said. “We've got to compete and win the 50-50 balls. I thought our guys gave the effort, but it wasn't enough.”

Six Minnesota players scored in double figures. Towns finished with 18 points and 13 rebounds while Alexander-Walker scored 16.

The listless Suns could never cut the deficit to single digits in the fourth. Now they're one loss away from what would be a bitterly disappointing season after entering the year with championship aspirations. By the end of the third quarter, there were scattered boos coming from the home crowd.

Booker said he couldn't blame them.

“We put ourselves in a hole and we’ve got to dig ourselves out of it,” Booker said. “So that’s that.”

Phoenix's Josh Okogie, who had eight points, was ejected late in the fourth after a hard foul on Gobert.

The Timberwolves led 59-53 at the halftime break following a competitive first half. Edwards led the Wolves with 16 points while Durant had 14 for the Suns. Eric Gordon gave Phoenix a spark with 10 points in the first quarter, but it was short lived.

The Suns played without starting guard Grayson Allen, who led the NBA in 3-point shooting percentage this season. Allen's dealing with a sprained ankle from Game 1 that he aggravated in Game 2.

AP NBA: https://apnews.com/NBA

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) and forward Kevin Durant watch a free throw during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards is fouled by Phoenix Suns forward Drew Eubanks, left, during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal passes around Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards, right, during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker looks to pass as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) defends during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker (1) rubs his forehead after a three pointer by Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker, right, during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns guard Bradley Beal (3) drives as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Anthony Edwards (5) defends during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Minnesota Timberwolves forward Kyle Anderson, left, and forward Jaden McDaniels, center, pressure Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns forward Kevin Durant looks at the scoreboard during the second half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Phoenix Suns guard Devin Booker watches during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series as Minnesota Timberwolves guard Nickeil Alexander-Walker (9) looks away, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)

Minnesota Timberwolves center Karl-Anthony Towns (32) drives on Phoenix Suns forward Royce O'Neale during the first half of Game 3 of an NBA basketball first-round playoff series, Friday, April 26, 2024, in Phoenix. (AP Photo/Matt York)