ARLINGTON, Texas — Wilyer Abreu played only six spring training games for the Red Sox and was 1 for 20.

The 25-year-old outfielder from Venezuela was laid up by a gastrointestinal virus for several weeks then his wife had twin boys 10 days ago.

On Thursday, before the Red Sox opened the season against the Texas Rangers, manager Alex Cora said he would be careful with how often he played Abreu early in the season.

Or maybe not. Abreu belted two home runs, including the winner in the ninth inning, as the Sox got started with a 5-2 victory before a sellout crowd of 37,587 at Globe Life Field.

Abreu was 3 for 4 with a walk and four RBIs. His three-run shot into the home bullpen in right-center field off Luke Jackson was the difference.

Four Red Sox pitchers held the Rangers to seven hits. Aroldis Chapman was the winner in his Sox debut with Justin Slaten getting the save. Texas didn’t score in the final five innings as the Red Sox bullpen proved to be a strength.

In his Sox debut, Garrett Crochet allowed two runs on five hits over five innings. He walked two and struck out four.

It took the righthander 47 pitches to get through the first innings. But he was able to lock in his command a bit and needed 41 for the next three innings.

Texas took a 1-0 lead in the second inning. Jake Burger drew a walk and took third on a double to right field that was misplayed by Abreu.

Kevin Pillar’s single up the middle drove in Burger.

Crochet retired eight in a row from there before Pillar singled and scored on a double to center by Kyle Higashioka.

Old friend Nate Eovaldi had a strong start for Texas, allowing two runs on three hits over six innings and 87 pitches. He struck out nine without a walk.

Abreu singled leading off the third inning, took third on a single by Connor Wong and scored when Ceddanne Rafaela grounded into a force at second base.

Abreu belted a 415-foot home run deep into the right-field stands in the fifth inning when he jumped on a high fastball from Eovaldi.

Kristian Campbell and Abreu worked two-out walks off lefthander Robert Garcia in the seventh inning. It was a particularly good at-bat by Abreu as he saw nine pitches.

Another old friend, Chris Martin, came in and struck out Connor Wong to end the threat.

Martin worked out of trouble in the eighth inning. Jarren Duran singled and stole second with one out but Rafael Devers grounded to third and Alex Bregman lined to right field.

Peter Abraham can be reached at [email protected]. Follow him @PeteAbe.