Hamels struggles, Red Sox top Phils

PHILADELPHIA (AP) -- Cole Hamels didn't increase his trade value against a team that's had the most interest in him.

Boston newcomer Hanley Ramirez and Dustin Pedroia each hit two home runs, Clay Buchholz threw three-hit ball over seven innings and the Red Sox roughed up Hamels in an 8-0 victory over the Philadelphia Phillies in an interleague opener Monday.

Hamels (0-1) gave up five hits in five innings, striking out six. He allowed four homers for the second time in his career.

"I'm discouraged," Hamels said. "You want to get that first win for your teammates and the organization. We didn't get the win we envisioned and I'm the culprit."

The Red Sox have been considered front-runners to land Hamels since the rebuilding Phillies made the 2008 World Series MVP available. But Boston isn't going to trade its best prospects for this version of Hamels.

"He didn't get away with any high fastballs and his command wasn't sharp at all," manager Ryne Sandberg said.

Buchholz (1-0) struck out nine and pitched like the guy who went 12-1 in 2013.

Ramirez made quite an impression in his first game since the free agent signed an $88 million, four-year contract. He hit a solo homer in the fifth and a grand slam off Jake Diekman in the ninth.

Hamels gave up five hits in five innings, striking out six. He allowed four homers for the second time in his career.

Mookie Betts also homered for Boston.

Red Sox slugger David Ortiz kept both feet in the batter's box for nearly every pitch during his four at-bats, going 0 for 4 with three strikeouts. Ortiz made it clear in spring training he doesn't like baseball's new pace of play rules, but he adhered to them in his first game. The only time he stepped out was after fouling a ball off his foot.

Buchholz didn't allow a hit until Ryan Howard lined an 0-2 pitch for a double with two outs in the fourth. Junichi Tazawa tossed a perfect eighth and Tommy Layne finished off the three-hitter.

Pedroia hit a towering drive out to left-center in the first inning to give the Red Sox a 1-0 lead. Betts lined one out to left leading off the third.

In the fifth, Pedroia connected again for his first multihomer game since Sept. 13, 2011, against Toronto. One out later, Ramirez hit a deep drive to left-center.

Pedroia snuffed Philadelphia's rally in the seventh inning. After consecutive one-hit hits, Pedroia made an excellent play at second base on Cody Asche's hard one-hopper and turned it into a fielder's choice. Buchholz then struck out Freddy Galvis to end the inning.

"We didn't have may great at-bats," Grady Sizemore said. "He really moved the ball around well."

A sellout crowd enjoyed opening-day festivities at Citizens Bank Park, including players doing their traditional entrance from the outfield stands. Many seats were empty long before the game ended, a sign of what's likely to come this summer.

TRAINER'S ROOM

Phillies: RHP Ken Giles was available in the bullpen after having back issues the last week of spring training.

UP NEXT

Following an off-day on Tuesday, Red Sox RHP Rick Porcello faces Phillies RHP Aaron Harang on Wednesday night. Porcello was 15-13 with a 3.43 ERA for Detroit last year. Harang was 12-12 with a 3.57 ERA for Atlanta in 2014.

COLE'S DEBUTS

Hamels is 1-7 with a 5.13 ERA in his first game of the season, including five straight losses. The Phillies are 2-8 in his first start of the year.

FIRST PITCH

Julie Kramer, the 24-year-old Phillies fan who overcame cancer and received a surprise visit from Chase Utley on Ellen DeGeneres' show in December, threw out the first pitch and fired a strike to Utley.

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