On Friday night, the Boston Red Sox got some things they haven’t got through the first two weeks of the season. They got a quality start and a win from a starting pitcher in a 6-4 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park.
Eduardo Rodriguez gave up two runs on three hits in 6.2 innings. He didn’t issue a walk and struck out eight. Rodriguez didn’t allow a base runner until Hanser Alberto singled with two outs in the fifth inning.
Tonight was Eduardo Rodriguez’s first outing in the majors with at least eight strikeouts and no walks. His season ERA dropped from 12.38 to 7.98. Progress is the name of the game.
— Austin J. Eich (@Eich_AJ) April 13, 2019
Andrew Benintendi got the scoring started with a solo homer in the third inning. The Red Sox added another run when Xander Bogaerts hit a double that scored Mitch Moreland in the fourth inning.
Andrew Benintendi’s homer was his first since Aug. 31, 2018.
— Christopher Smith (@SmittyOnMLB) April 13, 2019
The Orioles got within 3-2 when Dwight Smith hit a two run homer in the seventh inning. Matt Barnes recorded the final out in the seventh inning.
Brandon Workman and Ryan Brasier shut the door on a possible Orioles comeback. Brasier notched his third save of the season.
Bogaerts had three hits and two runs scored. Eduardo Nunez had two hits and two RBI. Moreland and Benintendi had two hits each. The Red Sox have won two straight games for the first time this season. The Red Sox and Orioles will play game two of the four game series on Saturday at 1:05 PM. A Rick Porcello/Dylan Bundy pitching matchup is scheduled.
Andrew Benintendi (16) hit a home run on Friday night. Photo from Thursday, April 11th courtesy of Delaney Gardner