Early returns certainly look good for the Baltimore Orioles. For the Boston Red Sox, it’s a lot like last season.
Boston fell to a second 0-3 start at Fenway Park and its first since 1948, as Trey Mancini and Austin Hays doubled in two innings during a third inning of seven innings, which led the Orioles to an 11-game winning streak. -3 Sunday.
Cedric Mullins went 5-for-5 with three doubles and a walk for the Orioles, collecting four shots in the first four innings. Maikel Franco added a double in the first half, in two halves, helping Baltimore in its first three-game game at Fenway on August 25-27, 2017.
“I think the synergy we have is really strong,” Mullins said. “The boys have been playing with each other for a few years now.”
In the shortened pandemic season last year, the Orioles finished fourth in the Eastern American League, with a record of 25-35, recording 108 losses in 2019 and a record number of 115 clubs in the previous year. This early shot gives Baltimore its first advantage in a game in AL East on May 1, 2017.
Boston had a 24-36 record last year, the lowest winning percentage since 1965.
“I was beaten in every aspect of the game,” said Boston manager Alex Cora. “We are at a rough start.”
The Red Sox lost their first four home games in 1948, returned to a 96-58 draw in Cleveland after a 154-game regular season, and lost an 8-3 playoff at Fenway.
Making only his third major league appearance, Baltimore left-back Bruce Zimmermann (1-0) gave up three rounds and four shots in six innings, with five shots and a walk for his first MLB victory.
“It’s a long season, but if it’s something, it gives a lot of confidence to this team,” Zimmermann said. “I think we’re going to catch a lot of people this season.”
The Orioles supported the Red Sox in five total races in the series.
“You have to play in this league, and we played these three games,” said Orioles manager Brandon Hyde. “We got very good starts from three guys and our bullpen did a good job coming and throwing strikes.”
JD Martinez had a solo homer and an RBI double for the Red Sox.
Boston starter Garrett Richards (0-1) was followed without exits and after loading the bases in the third. He was charged with six counts and seven counts of assault.
“There are three games in the season, a kind of early panic button,” Richards said. “If we invested our entire approach in three games, I don’t think anyone would be able to predict a World Series winner. This is a single series.”
Richards loaded the bases with two walks and one before Josh Taylor relieved himself. Freddy Galvis drew a four-step walk, and Hays doubled to the left.
Three beats later, Mancini doubled to center. Taylor threw a wild pitch and gave up Ryan Mountcastle’s RBI single. Taylor eventually faced eight strokes, getting two outs – both hits – and giving up five hits and four rounds.
Boston right-hander Garrett Whitlock replaced Taylor and threw 3 1/3 innings in his major league debut, eliminating five.
THINKING NICE
Red Sox manager Alex Cora said before the game that Mancini should be the Player of the Year.
“He should be the Player of the Year, no matter what,” Cora said. “He could hit .330 or .180 and he’s already the Returned Player of the Year. I know there are other guys coming back from injury, but coming back from that is amazing.”
Mancini missed the 2020 season due to stage 3 colon cancer, completed six months of chemotherapy and returned to spring training.
TRAINER’S ROOM
Oriole: Hays left the game after slipping into the second base with discomfort right at the skier. … Manager Brandon Hyde said right-hander Shawn Armstrong could be activated from the paternity list on Monday. The pitcher’s wife, Sarah, gave birth to a baby boy on Wednesday.
Red Sox: Cora said before the game that “everything is up to date with the fact that he will be with us” about left-back Eduardo Rodríguez, who started the season on the list of injuries with inflammation of his left elbow. Rodriguez launched a mock game Friday at the club’s new Triple-A facility in Worcester, Massachusetts.
IT FOLLOWS
Orioles: RHP Jorge Lopez is scheduled to make his first start of the season Monday at Yankee Stadium. LHP Jordan Montgomery is in line to launch for New York.
Red Sox: RHP Nick Pivetta is set to make his season debut against Tampa Bay on Monday at Fenway. Michael Wacha is set to start his first start with Rays after signing a one-year, $ 3 million contract in December.
The Associated Press contributed to this report.