BALTIMORE — Rookie Roman Anthony became the youngest Red Sox player ever to lead off a game with a home run when he smashed a 410-foot blast off Orioles starter Tomoyuki Sugano on Monday.
The 21-year-old outfielder had a simple response when asked about his achievement.
“It’s pretty cool,” he said. “It’s good. I like that. Sweet. Thanks for letting me know, but no, that’s great.”
Anthony’s two-hit, two-run performance helped the Red Sox secure a 4-3 win over the Orioles at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on Monday.
Anthony jumped on a 93.8 mph fastball from Sugano, a 35-year-old rookie from Japan, with the count even 2-2. It left his bat at 107.2 mph.
“To set the tone there, it’s a good feeling as the leadoff guy,” Anthony said.
Bobby Doerr was the previous youngest Red Sox player