Red Sox Wrap: Boston Can’t Climb Out Of Early Hole, Falls 7-2 To Orioles

After an outstanding Opening Day from the Boston Red Sox, things didn’t go so well in the second game of the series against the Baltimore Orioles.

For one, starting pitching was shakier, with Martin Perez giving up five runs in the first two innings, digging a hole the Red Sox wouldn’t get out of.

Mitch Moreland gave them some momentum in the sixth inning with a solo home run that was followed by a string of singles, but the two runs ultimately weren’t enough as Baltimore extended their lead to 7-2 for the final score.

With the result, the Red Sox and Orioles both sit at 1-1 heading into the third game of the series.

GAME IN A WORD
Downer.

After Friday’s Opening Day saw great offensive production and solid pitching from Nathan Eovaldi, Saturday suggested things might not be easy on days when Eovaldi or Eduardo Rodriguez aren’t on the mound.

ON THE BUMP
— Perez, in his debut on the mound for the Red Sox, showed some nerves early, allowing five runs the first two innings. Not ideal, but from there he started to settle down.

Perez didn’t allow another hit through the rest of his outing, pitching a total of five innings with six hits and two strikeouts. Four of the five runs he gave up were earned.

— Heath Hembree took over in relief for the sixth, posting a quick 1-2-3 inning after tossing 14 pitches.

— Dylan Covey came in for the seventh after the Sox managed to chip away at Baltimore’s lead, but the righty gave up three hits right off the bat for two earned runs, extending the Orioles lead back to four. He returned for the eighth and retired the side in order.

— Josh Osich handled the ninth, allowing a hit in a scoreless stanza.

IN THE BATTER’S BOX

— The Red Sox bats were pretty quiet through the first five innings, getting just three hits from J.D. Martinez, Jackie Bradley Jr. and Alex Verdugo.

Then, in the bottom of the sixth, Moreland got things going by hitting a solo homer to right field.

First homer of the season…

Also serves as a reminder that Mitch Moreland's My Story airs at 5:30 ET pic.twitter.com/VNAj3KHRzd

— NESN (@NESN) July 25, 2020

From there, Verdugo had another single, followed by Bradley Jr.’s second as well. The center fielder made it safe to second base after a throwing error from left field, and Verdugo advanced to third. That set up Kevin Plawecki for the first RBI of his Red Sox career, knocking a single that scored Verdugo to make it 5-2.

— Verdugo shined at bat and running bases, going 3-for-4 with a run. Bradley Jr. and Martinez each went 2-for-4.

— Moreland and Plawecki each finished with one hit.

— Andrew Benintendi, Rafael Devers and Jose Peraza each went hitless, as did Tzu-Wei Lin and Xander Bogaerts, both of whom each had two at-bats.

TWEET OF THE DAY
We missed watching Bradley Jr. take flight and rob batters of hits.

Soarin', flyin'

First one of the season for @JackieBradleyJr pic.twitter.com/UW7czowFmA

— NESN (@NESN) July 25, 2020

UP NEXT
Boston and Baltimore will play the rubber match of the three-game set Sunday, with first pitch from Fenway Park scheduled for 1:35 p.m. ET. Ryan Weber is expected to get the ball for the Red Sox and will be opposed by Wade LeBlanc.