🚨 UNFORGETTABLE FENWAY NIGHT: Mayer and Contreras Spark Red Sox Victory Over Padres — What Unfolded in This Thrilling Game? 👇 Red Sox Shockers: Mayer and Contreras Lead Boston to an Unexpected Win — The Moments You Won’t Believe from Fenway!

Red Sox vs. Padres Final Score, Highlights: Mayer, Contreras Power Boston to Fenway Win originally appeared on NESN. Add NESN as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Boston Red Sox finally found the win column on Friday afternoon, overcoming a sluggish start to the season with a commanding 5-2 victory over the San Diego Padres in the Fenway Park home opener. In front of a sellout crowd of 37,222, Boston snapped a five-game losing streak and provided a much-needed reset after a dismal opening road trip.

The scoring rhythm early on felt like a direct callback to the team’s season opener; Marcelo Mayer ignited the crowd in the third with a sharp double before being driven home by a Ceddanne Rafaela single to make it 1-0. Caleb Durbin added to the momentum in the fourth with an RBI single, his first hit of the season, ensuring the Fenway faithful stayed on their feet as the club rediscovered its rhythm.

While the atmosphere turned tense in the fifth when San Diego rallied for two runs to tie the game, the Red Sox responded with a decisive power display in the bottom of the sixth. Willson Contreras broke the deadlock by launching a towering solo shot over the Green Monster, and moments later, Mayer punctuated his stellar afternoon by crushing a home run of his own to right-center.

Backed by 6.0 gritty innings from Sonny Gray in his Boston debut, the bullpen slammed the door with three scoreless frames, ensuring the Red Sox walked off the field with their second win of 2026 and a renewed sense of momentum heading into the weekend.

Check out all the highlights as the Red Sox got a much-needed win in front of the Fenway Park crowd.

Red Sox vs. Padres score

	1	2	3	4	5	6	7	8	9	F
Padres					2					2
Red Sox			1	1		3			–	5

Click here:Complete box score and stats from home opener.

Red Sox vs. Padres live updates, highlights from 2026 home opener

(All times Eastern)

Final: Red Sox 5, Padres 2

4:42 p.m.: The Red Sox return to Fenway Park and pick up a win on the Home Opener.

Behind six solid innings from Gray and a three-run sixth inning featuring two home runs, Boston advances to 2-5 on the season with a 5-2 win. They will return to action against San Diego tomorrow, with Connelly Early on the bump.

Boston, you can celebrate. The Red Sox are back in the win column.

4:40 p.m.: San Diego has a man on in the ninth, with Machado walking. Now up is Laureano.

4:37 p.m.: San Diego is down to its final out, with Chapman striking out Merrill on a flamethrower right down the middle.

Up for San Diego is the lethal Machado.

4:36 p.m.: There’s one down in the ninth, with Bogaerts flying out to right field.

End of the eighth inning: Red Sox 5, Padres 2

4:32 p.m.: The Red Sox are unable to do anything in the eighth, going down in order. Now, it’s time for the ninth inning, with Boston three outs away from its first win since opening day.

Due up for San Diego is the heart of the lineup, with Bogaerts, Merill and Machado coming to the plate.

Now pitching for the Red Sox: Aroldis Chapman.

4:26 p.m.: It’s a nine-pitch inning for Slaten and Boston.

Tatis Jr. hits a dribbler to third, and Durbin runs in and gets the throw to first in time to get out the speedster. Once again, San Diego does not have a base runner on and hasn’t since the two-run fifth.

Now, the Red Sox will be three outs away from a Fenway Park win entering the ninth. Let’s see if they can get any insurance runs.

4:25 p.m.: There are two down in the top of the eighth, with Slaten getting the pinch hitter Bryce Johnson to strike out on a high fastball.

Now, the top of the Padres order is up with Tatis Jr.

End of the seventh inning: Red Sox 5, Padres 2

4:20 p.m.: Boston is unable to do anything in the bottom of the seventh, with Anthony Story and Duran going down in order.

We head to the eighth with the score still 5-2. Now pitching for the Red Sox is Justin Slaten.

4:14 p.m.: Greg Weissert enters from the bullpen to a round of applause, officially ending Sonny Gray’s afternoon.

Gray’s Fenway debut goes down as a resounding success, as the veteran right-hander worked 6.0 strong innings, scattering four hits and two runs while racking up three strikeouts.

Weissert picks up right where the starter left off, carving through the heart of the Padres’ order for a crisp 1-2-3 seventh to keep the momentum squarely with Boston.

End of the sixth inning: Red Sox 5, Padres 2

4:04 p.m.: With a new pitcher in, the Red Sox have hit the second hoe run of the inning.

Now, it’s Meyer, who drives the ball out to right field and it’s way gone. The two-run shot expands the Boston lead to three.

His first home run of the season comes at a huge time, and Boston has its biggest lead of the day.

Red Sox 3, Padres 2

3:57 p.m.: The first home run at Fenway Park this season gives Boston the lead.

It’s Contreras, who flies one 423 out of the ballpark over the Monster. His first home run of the season has Boston 3-2 up.

3:51 p.m.: Gray has three 1-2-3 innings, and this time it ends the top of the sixth. Here, Machado flies out on a sweeper to send Boston to the bottom of the inning.

End of the fifth inning: Padres 2, Red Sox 2

3:42 p.m.: It’s the second inning-ending double play for Boston, with Jake Cronenworth driving to stop a grounder. The acrobatic play turns into a 4-6-3 double play, ending the fifth.

3:41 p.m.: Anthony has his first hit of the afternoon, driving a single to get on base in the fifth.

Now up is Story with one out.

Padres 2, Red Sox 2

3:33 p.m.: We have a tie ballgame in the fifth.

With two outs, Campusano drills a full count off the Green Monster in left field, bringing Sheets all the way from first to home. Rafaela’s blunder in center results in a two-run inning for San Diego.

Story gets a routine groundout to end the fifth, but it’s 2-2.

Red Sox 2, Padres 1

3:30 p.m.: San Diego is on the board. After the Andujar triple, Sheets hits a single to right field and the Red Sox lead is cut in half.

3:29 p.m.: In his second at-bat, Andujar hits what looks like a routine fly out to center field, but the sun confuses Rafaela and the ball hits the ground. It gets ruled a triple for Andujar, who gets to third safely.

Now up is Sheets with the Padres looking to get on the board.

End of the fourth inning: Red Sox 2, Padres 0

3:24 p.m.: Narvaez strikes out looking to end the inning, but through four, the Red Sox are up 2-0.

Boston has four hits to San Diego’s one, and two RBI singles in consecutive innings give them the lead.

Red Sox 2, Padres 0

3:20 p.m.: What a time for Durbin to get his first hit of the season.

On a 2-0 count, he finally gets a single, lining the ball through the shortstop and second baseman and Duran comes home from second.

The RBI single from Durbin doubles the lead.

3:19 p.m.: After the leadoff single, both Contreras and Abreu go down on strikes, and it’s up to Durbin, who is looking for his first hit of the season.

3:15 p.m.: For the second consecutive inning, the Red Sox have a leadoff double.

This time, it’s Duran, who lines a grounder to the left of Sheets and it stays fair for his first double of the season.

3:13 p.m.: With two outs in the top of the fourth, Gray gets Machado to strike out swinging on a sinker, ending the inning.

It’s been a strong home debut for the pitcher, who has given up one hit in four innings while striking out two.

The heart of the Red Sox order is due up in the bottom of the inning.

3:08 p.m.: Duran is known for making acrobatic plays in the outfield, and he does it here to the former Boston star Bogaerts.

The Padre gets a hold of a ball out to the Green Monster, but Duran is able to leap up and make the catch while the fans hear a thump on the wall.

The stellar catch by No. 16 keeps the Padres off the bases in the fourth.

End of the third inning: Red Sox 1, Padres 0

3:04 p.m.: After the Rafaela single, Anthony and Story go down in order, ending the inning. But, it’s not before the Red Sox break the deadlock.

Similar to Opening Day against the Reds, Mayer and Rafaela get the Boston offense started. It’s 1-0 heading to the fourth.

Red Sox 1, Padres 0

3:00 p.m.: The Red Sox are the first team on the board at Fenway, courtesy of Ceddanne Rafaela.

The center fielder goes for a low pitch and drives it out to center, dropping ahead of Merill. It gets Mayer from second to home and Rafaela is safe at second with a RBI single.

It’s 1-0 Red Sox.

2:57 p.m.: Mayer has the Red Sox in business to start the third.

On a 2-1 count, Mayer laces a ball to left, which goes off the green monster and past Laureano. Mayer gets into second safely for a double.

2:54 p.m.: Tatis Jr. drives a ball far out in right field, but Wilyer Abreu is able to run it down before the warning track and ends the top of the third.

Gray pitched around the leadoff single to keep the game scoreless. Due up in the bottom of the third is Marcelo Mayer, Calos Narvaez and Ceddanne Rafaela.

2:53 p.m.: Campusano grounds out and Sheets stays at second, and there are two outs with Tatis Jr. coming back up.

2:50 p.m.: After he got on, Sheets steals second base and San Diego has a runner in scoring position with one out.

2:47 p.m.: San Diego has a baserunner, with Gavin Sheets popping a ball to shallow left field and three fielders unable to get it. Trevor Story was the closest, but the ball hits the ground.

End of the second inning: Padres 0, Red Sox 0

2:44 p.m.: It’s been a rough start for Caleb Durbin in Red Sox colors, and it continues here.

Still looking for his first hit, Durbin barely makes contact and hits a dribbler which is picked up by Luis Campusano the Padres catcher then turns a double play, ending the inning.

While the second started with promise for Boston, we go to the third still scoreless.

2:42 p.m.: To start the second inning, Willson Contreras faced a full count after nearly being hit by a pitch.

He then gets called for a strikeout looking on the outside corner, but the new Red Sox player confidently challenges it. It’s a successful ABS challenge, and Contreras walks.

He flings his bat and Boston has the first baserunner of the game.

2:38 p.m.: After both Manny Machado and Ramón Laureano go down, Miguel Andujar grounds out to Story, and it’s a second consecutive 1-2-3 inning for Gray.

End of the first inning: Padres 0, Red Sox 0

2:31 p.m.: Now, the Red Sox go out in order in the bottom of the first, with Anthony, Story and Duran all getting out in 10 pitches.

Through one, the game is hitless.

2:26 p.m.: It’s a 1-2-3 first for Gray, who gets out of the inning on eight pitches after a Jackson Merrill ground out to first.

To the bottom of the first we go. Due up is Roman Anthony, Trevor Story and Jarren Duran.

2:24 p.m.: Tatis Jr. grounds out to short, and now up is Xander Bogaerts.

The 2018 World Series champion returns to the batter’s box at Fenway Park, where he spent a decade as the heart of the Red Sox infield. Now wearing Padres brown, the four-time All-Star receives a thunderous standing ovation from the Boston faithful who haven’t forgotten his two rings and 1,264 hits in a Sox uniform.

He gets a massive applause from the Fenway crowd, then pops out on the first pitch.

2:22 p.m.: We are underway in Boston.

First up for San Diego is Fernando Tatis Jr.

2:14 p.m.: With the famous 1986 Red Sox team on the field, the famous words have been said: “Play ball!”

It’s time for Red Sox baseball at Fenway Park.

2:04 p.m.: First pitch is moments away at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox are looking to break a five-game losing streak spanning back to Opening Day.

1:56 p.m.: Fenway Park opened its gates on April 20, 1912, making it the oldest active ballpark in Major League Baseball.

The stadium’s first professional game—a Red Sox victory over the New York Highlanders—was famously overshadowed in the local news by the sinking of the Titanic just five days prior.

Throughout its century of history, the park has been defined by its unique dimensions and the iconic “Green Monster,” a 37-foot-high left-field wall that was originally built to keep non-paying fans from watching games.

Now a member of the National Register of Historic Places, Fenway remains a cornerstone of Boston culture and one of the most recognizable sports venues in the world.

1:50 p.m.: The San Diego Padres enter the 2026 season with a talented core led by superstars Fernando Tatis Jr. and Manny Machado, along with rising center fielder Jackson Merrill.

After a 2–4 start to the year at home, the team travels to Fenway Park today to hand the ball to right-hander Michael King, who is coming off a sharp five-inning performance in his season debut.

The weekend series also marks a significant homecoming for Padres shortstop Xander Bogaerts, who returns to face his former club in front of the Boston crowd.

1:48 p.m.: The pregame ceremony is underway from Fenway Park.

1:25 p.m.: Today’s scene.

1:14 p.m.: Here is the complete Red Sox lineup for the Home Opener.

1:10 p.m.: First pitch is an hour away.

Taking the bump for Boston is Sonny Gray, who in his first game with the Red Sox pitched 4.0 innings, giving up three runs and four hits in a 6-5 loss.

1:05 p.m.: Welcome home, Red Sox fans.

The Boston Red Sox return to Fenway Park today for their 2026 home opener against the San Diego Padres.

After a difficult 1–5 road trip to start the season, the team is looking to reset in front of the hometown crowd with veteran Sonny Gray scheduled to take the mound.

First pitch is set for 2:10 p.m. ET, marking the start of a three-game interleague weekend series in Boston.

How to watch Red Sox vs. Padres today: TV channel, live stream

TV channel: NESN

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Red Sox vs. Padres start time

Date: Friday, April 3
Time: 2:10 p.m. ET

Red Sox vs. Padres is scheduled to start at 2:10 p.m. ET on Friday, April 3. The game will be played at Fenway Park in Boston.

Boston Red Sox schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Red Sox:

Date	Game	Time (ET)
April 3	vs. Padres	2:10 p.m.
April 4	vs. Padres	4:10 p.m.
April 5	vs. Padres	1:35 p.m.
April 6	vs. Brewers	6:45 p.m.
April 7	vs. Brewers	6:45 p.m.

San Diego Padres schedule 2026

Here is the upcoming schedule for the Padres:

Date	Game	Time (ET)
April 3	at Red Sox	2:10 p.m.
April 4	at Red Sox	4:10 p.m.
April 5	at Red Sox	1:35 p.m.
April 6	at Pirates	6:40 p.m.
April 7	at Pirates	6:40 p.m.

NEWS USA

🚨 UNFORGETTABLE FENWAY NIGHT: Mayer and Contreras Spark Red Sox Victory Over Padres — What Unfolded in This Thrilling Game? 👇 Red Sox Shockers: Mayer and Contreras Lead Boston to an Unexpected Win — The Moments You Won’t Believe from Fenway!

Red Sox vs. Padres score