BOSTON --- There were two Red Sox players wearing No. 7 on the field for an inning Friday night.

Nathan Eovaldi and Christian Vazquez were involved in a bit of a mixup that, judging by social media response, left Boston fans a bit confused.

Eovaldi took the mound in his customary No. 17 jersey for the first Opening Day start of his career. He emerged from the home dugout later in the game wearing No. 7, which Vazquez has owned since establishing himself as a Red Sox [...]

BOSTON --- There were two Red Sox players wearing No. 7 on the field for an inning Friday night.

Nathan Eovaldi and Christian Vazquez were involved in a bit of a mixup that, judging by social media response, left Boston fans a bit confused.

Eovaldi took the mound in his customary No. 17 jersey for the first Opening Day start of his career. He emerged from the home dugout later in the game wearing No. 7, which Vazquez has owned since establishing himself as a Red Sox regular in 2016.

Was this even legal? Surely a 30-man baseball roster doesn’t require double numbers – one on offense, one on defense – like a Power 5 college football team. Eovaldi, when asked following the 13-2 win, had a humorous explanation.

"Vazquez and I, we both sweat a lot," Eovaldi said. "We had the jerseys hanging up down by the batting cage. I didn’t realize his was down there too.

"I glanced over and I just saw the 7. I assumed it was mine and grabbed it off the hanger and threw it on. Once I came back to the dugout they were like, ‘Hey, atta boy Vazqy.’ I was like, ‘What?’ I had his jersey on."

Eovaldi’s lone run allowed came in the top of the sixth while wearing his own number. He scattered five hits and struck out four in an impressive performance.

"I thought it felt a little tight on my arms," Eovaldi said, "but it was all good."

bkoch@providencejournal.com

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On Twitter: @BillKoch25