The Baltimore Orioles scored three first inning runs and got a good pitching performance from Alex Cobb Saturday afternoon to take a 7-2 win over the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park.
Baltimore (1-1) got a two run double in the top of the first from Renato Nunez, and then with two outs on an error by Rafael Devers on a ball hit by Pedro Severino, Nunez came across to make it 3-0 Orioles. Hanser Alberto and Jose Iglesias added RBI singles in the second to extend to a five run lead. Mitch Moreland hit a solo homer to right field in his season debut in the sixth, and Kevin Plawecki had an RBI single in the same frame for the only Boston (1-1) runs. Anthony Santander finished the scoring on the day with a two run double for Baltimore in the seventh to extend back to the final margin of five.
Martin Perez (0-1) allowed four earned runs on six hits in the loss in his first game in a Boston uniform. Cobb (1-0) allowed only the Moreland homerun on six hits with six strikeouts in 5.1 innings to pick up the win. Former Los Angeles Dodger outfielder Alex Verdugo had three hits in his first game with the Sox, while Jackie Bradley Jr. and JD Martinez continued their scorching start with two hits a piece. Andrew Benentendi and Devers have combined to go 0-18 at the plate over the first two games. Alberto had three hits and scored twice for the Birds, while Austin Hays and Iglesias had two hits each.
The rubber game of the three game opening set will be at 1:35 on Sunday afternoon when Ryan Weber takes to the hill for Boston against Wade Leblanc for Baltimore.
