Dustin Pedroia blasts homer vs. Cole Hamels (Video)

Dustin Pedroia wasted little time in hitting his first home run of the 2015 season. 

The Boston Red Sox had a disappointing season a year ago as defending World Series champions. They made a handful of moves to improve their squad this offseason–most notably signing the free agent duo of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval to improve the pop in the middle of the order.

But a familiar face was the first to strike it big in Monday’s season opener in Philadelphia against one of the game’s best pitchers, Cole Hamels.

Second baseman Dustin Pedroia, hitting in his usual second spot in the batting order, took the first hittable pitch he saw from the Philadelphia ace and blasted it into the left field seats a few rows back in the Phillies’ diminutive ballpark.

Pedroia had his lowest home run total a season ago among the seasons in which he began the year in the big leagues, hitting just seven in 135 games played.

But he now has more protection behind him in the lineup, which should by extension give him more pitches to drive. Monday he took advantage of Hamels’ mistake, as it was supposed to be placed on the outer half of the plate.

Instead Hamels missed up and in, Pedroia’s wheelhouse. The result was exactly what the Red Sox hope to see more of from their All-Star second baseman in 2015.

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