Ex-Hendricken star Michael King starts for Padres at Red Sox home opener

King absorbs first loss of season as Padres fall to Red Sox 5-2 at Fenway Park

Apr. 3, 2026 at 10:33pm

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A fractured, geometric painting depicting the dynamic movements and energy of a baseball game, with the players and stadium architecture broken down into abstract shapes and angles.A cubist interpretation of the high-energy matchup between the visiting Padres and the hometown Red Sox on Opening Day at Fenway Park.San Diego Today

Michael King, a former standout at Bishop Hendricken and Boston College, made his seventh career appearance and third start at Fenway Park as the visiting pitcher for the San Diego Padres in their matchup against the Boston Red Sox on Opening Day. Despite pitching six strong innings, King took the loss as the Red Sox rallied with a pair of home runs in the sixth inning to defeat the Padres 5-2.

Why it matters

As a New England native, King has a special connection to Fenway Park and the Boston area, having grown up and played college baseball nearby. This homecoming start against the Red Sox represents an important milestone in King's professional career as he faces off against the team he likely rooted for as a child.

The details

King threw six innings, allowing seven hits, four earned runs, one walk, and five strikeouts. He was cruising until the sixth inning when Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer hit solo and two-run home runs off reliever Wandy Peralta to give the Red Sox a 5-2 lead, which they would hold on to for the victory.

  • King's first professional outing at Fenway Park came with the Yankees in 2021.
  • Friday afternoon's game marked King's seventh career appearance and third start at Fenway Park.
  • The game took place on April 3, 2026, the Red Sox home opener.

The players

Michael King

A former standout at Bishop Hendricken High School and Boston College, King is now a pitcher for the San Diego Padres.

Willson Contreras

The Boston Red Sox catcher who hit a solo home run in the sixth inning to give the Red Sox the lead.

Marcelo Mayer

The Boston Red Sox shortstop who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend the Red Sox's lead.

Wandy Peralta

The San Diego Padres relief pitcher who gave up the home runs to Contreras and Mayer in the sixth inning.

Craig Stammen

The San Diego Padres manager.

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What they’re saying

“It's always fun. Good atmosphere. Warmer than I expected – I was kind of wishing for it to be a little bit colder.”

— Michael King, Padres Pitcher

“They were aggressive. We played into it early – got a lot of soft contact. And then I threw a couple bad pitches that I wish I would have executed a little bit better.”

— Michael King, Padres Pitcher

“He pitched pretty good today. Felt like the end of the fifth, a couple hard-hit balls. Sixth inning, a couple hard-hit balls.”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

“Then we felt like we had a matchup that was better in our favor with Wandy. It ended up not being that.”

— Craig Stammen, Padres Manager

What’s next

King and the Padres will look to bounce back in their next series against the New York Mets starting on April 6.

The takeaway

Despite the loss, King's homecoming start at Fenway Park represents an important milestone in his career as he continues to establish himself as a reliable starting pitcher in the major leagues. The experience of pitching in front of family and friends in a historic ballpark will undoubtedly provide valuable lessons and motivation as he looks ahead to future matchups.