A nine-run sixth, a few intriguing flashes, and another reminder of why this spring tradition still matters.
Spring training box scores don’t count, and everyone knows that.
But they still tell little stories.
And Friday’s opener - the annual tune-up between the Boston Red Sox and Northeastern University - offered a reminder of why this quirky, low-stakes tradition continues to matter, even when the final line reads like a football score.
Boston rolled to an 18-3 win in seven innings at JetBlue Park, blowing the game open with a 9-run sixth that felt like the kind of avalanche you expect when big leaguers start seeing tired college arms for the third or fourth time through.
But beyond the crooked numbers, there were a handful of small developments worth tucking away as the calendar flips toward meaningful Grapefruit League action.
Second baseman Mikey Romero delivered one of the more complete afternoons, ripping an RBI triple into the triangle and flashing the leather with a slick backhanded play ranging toward the shortstop side of the bag.
It’s the type of all-around performance that doesn’t guarantee anything in February, but it does reinforce why the organization remains intrigued by his upside.
Mar 6, 2025; Dunedin, Florida, USA; Boston Red Sox shortstop Mikey Romero (22) celebrates after hitting a home run against the Toronto Blue Jays in the fourth inning during spring training at TD Ballpark. (Nathan Ray Seebeck/Imagn Images)Behind the plate, Ronald Rosario’s day was a mixed bag - he homered but threw out just one of six attempted base stealers - which is about as “spring training” of a stat line as you’ll find.
On the mound, Tyler Uberstine allowed 1 earned run with 2 strikeouts in 1.1 innings, a solid opening note for a pitcher still trying to carve out a path up the organizational ladder.
For Northeastern, there were brief flashes early, including an RBI single from Ryan Gerety in the first and a disruptive second inning from Anthony Ruggiero that included a hit and two steals, but the talent gap eventually showed.
And that’s always been part of the charm of this matchup.
For the Red Sox, it’s a low-pressure way to ease into game action, get a look at young players, and shake off the offseason rust.
For Northeastern - a program that’s quietly built real credibility in recent years - it’s a rare chance to measure themselves against big league competition and soak in an experience most college players will never get.
There’s also something to be said for the community element.
The Red Sox don’t have to keep this tradition alive, but they do, and it serves as a reminder of the franchise’s footprint beyond just wins and losses.
Next up, things get a little more real.
Boston opens Grapefruit League play Saturday against the Minnesota Twins, with lefty Payton Tolle set to make his first career spring start opposite Joe Ryan - a name Sox fans might remember from trade chatter last summer.
The games will start to count soon enough.
But first, there was this - a lopsided score, a handful of encouraging flashes, and another small chapter in one of spring training’s more underrated rituals.
The Boston Red Sox played a spring training exhibition game between the Boston Red Sox and Northeastern University at JetBlue Park on Friday 2/22/2019. Red Sox Vs Northeastern University (Andrew West/Fort Myers News-Press/USA TODAY NETWORK FLORIDA)JOIN THE CONVERSATION:
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Tom Carroll is a contributor for Roundtable, with boots-on-the-ground coverage of all things Boston sports. He's a senior digital content producer for WEEI.com, and a native of Lincoln, RI.