BOSTON — A year ago, Blake Swihart would have walked into the clubhouse and said hello to Mookie Betts.

He did the same thing Saturday, but Fenway Park is a long way from Hadlock Field. The Portland Sea Dogs teammates were together again – with the Boston Red Sox.

Swihart, 23, made his major league debut Saturday, going 1 for 3 while handling his catching chores fine.

“He’s my buddy. I’m happy for him,” said Betts, who jumped to the majors last year and remains as the Red Sox center fielder and leadoff hitter.

The length of Swihart’s stay will depend on the Red Sox’s hope that he can contribute right away, in the wake of starting catcher Ryan Hanigan being sidelined at least 10 weeks with a broken finger.

“I feel ready,” Swihart said. “Obviously they feel I’m ready.”

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Manager John Farrell said he knows of no plans to obtain a catcher from outside the organization, leaving Boston with Swihart and Sandy Leon.

“Going forward, it’s hard to say what the distribution of games will be between him and Sandy,” Farrell said. “Blake is a darn good prospect. He’s going to get a lot of exposure. We will ease him in and out, and divide the time as we feel appropriate.”

One possible sign that the Red Sox plan to keep Swihart around is his jersey number (23) – not one of those offensive lineman numbers they give players expected to go back down to the minors (Swihart wore No. 71 in spring training).

Swihart batted .300 in Portland last year and was hitting .338 in Pawtucket before the promotion.

Swihart can throw out runners, but Farrell said his young catcher still has to get used to “some subtleties” of the major leagues, including calling a game.

And with the Red Sox rotation struggling, calling a game can be crucial. Swihart seemed to pass his first test Saturday. Coincidence or not, Wade Miley had his longest outing of the season.

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“I thought he did an excellent job,” Miley said. “We were on the same page the whole game.”

Only one Yankee – Jacoby Ellsbury – tried to steal, and he was safe against a throw that was late and off target. Ellsbury might have been safe even with a good throw, but Swihart wasn’t buying it.

“I didn’t have good footwork and I didn’t get the job done,” he said.

At the plate, Swihart wasn’t overmatched. He struck out in a nine-pitch at-bat in the third. In the fifth he endured a seven-pitch at-bat, beating out an infield grounder between first and second for a single.

Not only was the Fenway Park crowd cheering Swihart’s first major league hit, but a group of players in Reading, Pennsylvania, were whooping it up.

Before the Sea Dogs’ game Saturday night, players gathered in the visitors’ clubhouse to watch.

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“There was a contagious energy in the clubhouse to see a former teammate make it,” pitcher Mike McCarthy said. “Reminds us all what we’re playing for.

“Blake is a special player and we’re incredibly proud to call him both a teammate and friend.”

In the seventh, Swihart worked a full-count walk, then scored from first on Betts’ double off the Green Monster.

The catcher not only beats out a grounder but goes first to home on a ball to left.

“He’s got age and athleticism on his side,” Farrell said. “It’s one game, keep in mind, but I think there’s a reason why so many people are attracted to him.”

Swihart saw 22 pitches in his first three plate appearances. He saw three in his fourth time up, when Dellin Betances struck him out. Standing in the sunshine, Betances fired in two fastballs (98 and 97 mph) and a curve to Swihart, in the shadowed batting box.

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“I was seeing the ball well, but it was tough to see at the end with those shadows,” Swihart said. “It’s something I’ll learn.”

Swihart may have some learning to do, but it will take place on the big stage. No more talk of potential. The Red Sox need performance now.

Miley seemed confident.

“He knows what he’s doing,” Miley said.


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