Red Sox Down Giants Again as Boston's Hot Start Continues
Boston kept its early-season momentum going on Saturday, holding off San Francisco 3-2 for its second straight win over the Giants and its fourth victory in its last five games to open the 2026 schedule.
Boston's win came behind another strong turn from starter Patrick Sandoval, who tossed his way to 29.7 fantasy points on the day. Sandoval has been the steadying presence Boston needed to open the year, and against a Giants lineup that had already seen him once this season, he did enough to keep his team in front for good.
Boston's offense didn't overwhelm anybody, but it didn't have to. Nick Sogard continued to make his case as an everyday piece at second base, turning in a 22.0-fantasy-point day that included the kind of table-setting at-bats that don't always show up in the box score but show up on the scoreboard. Caleb Durbin chipped in at third with 15.0 fantasy points, and Eli White added 12.0 points from the right field spot, giving Boston enough length up and down the lineup to get the job done.
Catcher Mickey Gasper also factored in behind the plate, posting 11.0 fantasy points while helping steer Sandoval through the Giants order, and the bullpen did its job protecting the lead, with Greg Weissert logging 10.0 fantasy points in relief work that helped close the door.
San Francisco kept things close throughout, but couldn't quite finish the job, falling 3-2 in a game that came down to the final innings.
It's worth zooming out here. This is just Week 1 of the regular season, and both of these clubs have plenty of season left to find their footing. But early trends matter, especially when they're this stark. Boston looks like a team playing loose and confident, riding contributions from up and down the roster rather than leaning on one or two stars every night. For Boston, the challenge now is turning a hot week into sustained form once the schedule turns away from San Francisco. Sandoval has looked like a rotation anchor early, and if Sogard and Durbin keep hitting like this, the lineup should hold up even against tougher pitching.
