In more ways than one, it was a chilly reception for the Boston Red Sox at their home opener on Tuesday as they celebrated their 2018 World Series victory.

In front of a packed crowd that had to bundle up to face temperatures in the 30s for the early April game, the Sox were quickly brought back to reality from their final victory lap after the Toronto Blue Jays beat them, 7-5.

Before the game, the mood in the clubhouse and ballpark was light as the minutes ticked down to the pre-game festivities.

"Today's a special day," said Red Sox manager Alex Cora before the game. "Like I told the guys down there, 'Enjoy it. Enjoy it because not everybody can win a World Series.' And there's a lot of people that played this game that had great careers and, you know, there are Hall of Famers that don't even have a ring. ... We're gonna enjoy this one."

An hour before first pitch, the Red Sox honored everyone from the trainers to the coaching staff to each individual player on the field. Dressed in special home uniforms with a gold trim around the numbers and lettering, the Sox picked up their gleaming championship rings and unveiled a flag and banner to commemorate 2018.

The day was a celebration of everything Boston. The New England Patriots made a cameo appearance, complete with their six Lombardi trophies, to wish the Sox luck and throw out the ceremonial first pitch. There was even a bit of history made as Cora and Toronto's Charlie Montoyo became the first pair of managers from Puerto Rico to go head-to-head in an MLB game.

It felt like nothing could ruin the day for Boston. Until they had to start playing baseball.

The Sox got off to a good start and built a two-run lead in the first two innings. But their luck went from bad in the third inning, when Toronto tied the score with two runs of its own, to worse in the fourth, when the Blue Jays got three runs, including one where second baseman Lourdes Gurriel Jr. stole home off a sleepy Chris Sale.

Boston got close multiple times, but couldn't regain the lead as the Blue Jays continued to pull away.

After the game, the solution Cora offered was simple.

"We have to play better, I've been saying it all along, it's just play better," he said. "Better defense, better offense, pitch better. As everybody knows, we go with the starters. You know, starters are the strongest point and so far it hasn't been good. .... We just gotta get better."

As the team continues to contend with its slow start, questions will continue to arise. But now that celebrations for last year are done, star rightfielder and last year's MVP Mookie Betts has one less thing to think about.

"Yeah, I mean it's officially behind us, so now we have to worry about 2019," he said.