'Very emotional moment': Bello earns win in belated 2025 debut

BOSTON -- Brayan Bello knew the finish line was coming in his season debut, and that the Mariners had one of their most accomplished hitters at the plate in Randy Arozarena.

While the righty’s best pitches are surely still ahead of him in the coming months, he reached back for a 3-2 slider and blew it by Arozarena.

Bello pumped his fist and shouted with joy after his 97th pitch, marking a successful return to action in which he helped lead the Red Sox to an 8-3 victory over the Mariners in Tuesday night’s opener of a three-game series at Fenway Park.

“Obviously, I felt very good that I was able to get that zero with a man on second and only one out,” said Bello. “I was able to get those last two outs. I kept battling and kept my team ahead. So, for me, it was huge for me to be able to keep the team competing.”

Being back and doing what he loves brought him joy, and Bello wasn’t afraid to express it.

“Very excited. Very emotional moment for me,” said Bello. “I was trying to do my job from the first pitch to the last one. But yeah, just a very good moment for me to be back.”

In a five-inning performance, Bello did what he does best, inducing 10 of his 15 outs on grounders.

The 25-year-old shook off an early Jorge Polanco solo homer by allowing the Mariners to hit just one ball in the air the rest of the way. Bello allowed four hits and one run, walking three and striking out three.

Escaping a first-inning jam after the blast by Polanco ended up keying Bello’s night.

Immediately following the homer, Bello walked catcher Cal Raleigh and hit both Arozarena and Luke Raley to load the bases with one out.

Bello came through with a 1-1 slider to frequent Red Sox tormenter Rowdy Tellez and got the ground ball he needed. But his job wasn’t done. After Triston Casas fielded it and fired to shortstop Trevor Story for the force, Bello showed all-out hustle and athleticism by going into a full stretch and sprawling across the first-base bag to complete the double play.

“I feel it's the first time in my career that I hit two batters in one inning,” Bello said. “So after that, I just settled down and tried to do my job, and I was glad that I was able to get out of that inning with less damage than it could have been.”

Boston’s Opening Day starter in 2024, Bello struggled in the first half of that season after signing a new contract, but he was strong down the stretch.

Now that he’s healthy again after showing up to Spring Training with right shoulder inflammation, Bello figures to be an important cog in a rotation that also includes Garrett Crochet, Walker Buehler and Tanner Houck.

At least for Red Sox manager Alex Cora and the team’s training staff, the most anxious portion of the evening took place in the fourth inning, when Bello’s right calf cramped up on him.

After a visit from Cora and trainer Brandon Henry, Bello was able to shake it off and stay in the game.

While Cora said the Red Sox would circle back with the righty on Wednesday to make sure his leg is sound, Bello dismissed the chance of it preventing him from making his next start on schedule.

“Yeah, it's nothing,” said Bello. “I'll be ready for my next start [on Sunday].”

Casas breaks it open

Aside from Bello’s comeback performance, the other big development of the night was Casas belting a three-run homer to center in the bottom of the seventh to fuel a four-run inning that put a close game out of reach.

Casas has struggled mightily to start the season, producing a slash line of .165/.241/.278.

“It felt good to finally connect with one, contribute and put on the Wally helmet,” said Casas, referring to the team’s new ritual of crowning the home-run hero with a replica of the team mascot’s fluffy head.

The coaching staff is working hard with Casas to help get him going.

“I know the group is grinding,” said Cora. “It feels like he's not hitting the ball as hard as he can. He just needs to tighten some things up. We like him to get on base, but we like him to drive the ball. That was an outstanding swing.”