Roman Anthony, MLB’s top prospect, makes dazzling first impression on Rockies in Boston’s series-opening win over Colorado

Roman Anthony had Austin Gomber yelling at himself.

Anthony, the highly-hyped rookie who is the top prospect in baseball, blasted a two-out, two-run, 418-foot no-doubter to center field in the fifth that was the turning point in the series opener on Monday at Fenway Park.

The Red Sox rode that homer to a 9-3 win, dropping the Rockies to 21-70 as they remain on pace to surpass the ’24 White Sox as the worst team in modern baseball history.

Anthony finished with three hits on the night. He followed his fifth-inning homer with another single in the seventh, after which he showed off his five-tool projection by scoring from first on a single to right field. He was stealing on the play, but still, didn’t break stride as he was waved around third and beat the throw home with a perfect slide to extend Boston’s lead.

Meanwhile, old friend Trevor Story had an off night in his first game against his former team after missing the previous matchups due to injury. The Rockies shortstop and a two-time all-star from 2016-21 was 0 for 4, and also had an error in the second inning that led to an early 1-0 lead for Colorado.

After taking that lead, Gomber gave it right back amid a mediocre outing from the southpaw. Gomber allowed five runs (four earned) on seven hits, a walk and five strikeouts over 4 2/3 innings. Boston starter Richard Fitts outpitched him, going 5 2/3 innings with one earned run for his first MLB win.

“(Fitts) was living on that top rail tonight, and we couldn’t get to that heater, and his slider was good too,” interim manager Warren Schaeffer told reporters. “We just had no answer for his fastball.”

Boston plated three runs in the bottom of the second after a leadoff walk by Rob Refsnyder got the Red Sox going. Wilyer Abreu had an RBI double, and Abraham Toro followed with a two-RBI double.

After Anthony’s homer in the fifth made it 5-1, Refsnyder’s infield single the next batter chased Gomber, who was heated and cussing as he walked off the mound. Gomber then proceeded to chuck his glove in the dugout and take his anger out on a cooler before Jimmy Herget stopped the bleeding by striking out Story to end the frame.

“(Gomber) just left that heater up (to Anthony), and I think he was really upset about that,” Schaeffer said. “Overall, I thought he pitched well and gave us a chance to win. … He was one or two pitches away from getting out of that inning. Obviously it didn’t work out tonight, but it could have.”

The Rockies got a pair of runs back with two outs in the sixth.

Michael Toglia grounded to third and Nate Eaton thought about tagging Thairo Estrada, who was coming from second. Estrada was initially ruled out of the baseline, but the umpires changed the call, resulting in a run scoring on the play. Ryan McMahon then ripped an RBI single to make it 5-3.