Homers Help Red Sox Win Fenway Opener vs. Padres

Contreras, Mayer power Boston to 5-2 victory in home opener

Apr. 4, 2026 at 2:35am

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A fractured, geometric painting in vibrant colors depicting the dynamic energy of a baseball game, with players and the field deconstructed into sharp, overlapping planes.A cubist interpretation of the action-packed home opener between the Red Sox and Padres at Fenway Park.San Diego Today

The Boston Red Sox defeated the San Diego Padres 5-2 in their home opener at Fenway Park on Friday. Willson Contreras and Marcelo Mayer both hit home runs in the sixth inning to lead the Red Sox to victory. Sonny Gray pitched six solid innings for Boston, allowing just two runs on four hits.

Why it matters

The Red Sox were looking to bounce back from a five-game losing streak, and this win in their home opener gives them some momentum heading into the rest of the season. The Padres, meanwhile, are trying to build on their success from last year and make another playoff push.

The details

The Red Sox scored in back-to-back innings to take an early 2-0 lead, but the Padres tied the game in the fifth inning. In the sixth, Contreras hit a solo home run to put Boston back in front, and Mayer followed with a two-run shot to extend the lead to 5-2. Gray picked up the win for the Red Sox, while Michael King took the loss for the Padres.

  • The game was played on Friday, April 4, 2026.
  • The Red Sox were looking to break a five-game losing streak.

The players

Willson Contreras

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

Marcelo Mayer

A young outfielder for the Boston Red Sox who hit a two-run home run in the sixth inning to extend the Red Sox's lead.

Sonny Gray

The starting pitcher for the Boston Red Sox who picked up the win, allowing just two runs on four hits in six innings of work.

Michael King

The starting pitcher for the San Diego Padres who took the loss, allowing four runs in 5 2/3 innings.

Gavin Sheets

An outfielder for the San Diego Padres who went 2-for-3 with an RBI and a run scored.

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What they’re saying

“We needed this win to get back on track. The guys came up with some big hits when we needed them most.”

— Alex Cora, Red Sox Manager

What’s next

The Red Sox and Padres will continue their series on Saturday at Fenway Park.

The takeaway

This win gives the Red Sox a much-needed boost after a tough start to the season, and shows that their young core of players like Mayer and Contreras can step up and deliver in big moments. The Padres, meanwhile, will need to regroup and find a way to slow down the Red Sox's offense in the remaining games of the series.