Orioles stay perfect with offensive show vs. Red Sox
BOSTON -- After jumping all over Red Sox ace David Price in the series opener, the Baltimore Orioles had plenty left for an encore performance Tuesday night.
J.J. Hardy had a pair of two-run home runs, Mark Trumbo added another and the Orioles pounded the Red Sox 9-5 to win their seventh straight game to begin the season.
The Orioles are the only remaining undefeated team in the majors, and this is their best start since moving to Baltimore in 1954. The franchise went 9-0 as the St. Louis Browns to start the 1944 season.
"It's just every night," Hardy said. "You watch the guys when you're sitting in the dugout and watch everybody's at-bats. It's fun because everybody 1 through 9 can do it."
Trumbo's homer off Clay Buchholz (0-1) was his second in two days. It was part of a three-run sixth inning that put the Orioles in front.
Hardy curled Buchholz's fastball inside the right-field foul pole for his first homer in the fourth, then got his second off Robbie Ross Jr. in the seventh.
"You like to see good things happen to good people, and he deserves a couple of breaks," Baltimore manager Buck Showalter said. "But he put good swings on those balls."
Buchholz went five innings, one more than in his season debut, but allowed five earned runs for the second time in a row.
"I felt like I had good stuff," Buchholz said. "I felt like I threw the ball pretty well tonight. Two home runs got me."
Mike Wright (1-0) made his season debut after having it delayed by a rainout. He went five innings, gave up four runs and struck out four.
Boston started fast, taking a 2-0 lead on David Ortiz's third home run of the season in the first.
The Orioles have scored nine runs in each of the past two games.
It was the 12th career multihomer game for Hardy and his first since 2014.
Trumbo has two home runs and five RBIs through two games of the three-game series, which concludes Wednesday night.
Baltimore had 11 hits and has at least eight in every game so far, the first time the franchise has done that through seven games.
"Everybody trusts one another," Hardy said. "It really is a good lineup, and it's fun to be part of."
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Showalter said LHP Brian Matusz, currently on the 15-day disabled list with a back strain, will pitch at least once more for the Orioles' Class A Frederick affiliate beginning Friday. Showalter said an outing Monday night for Matusz in Frederick "didn't go too well for him." Right-hander Kevin Gausman (shoulder) also is rehabbing on the 15-day DL. Outfielder Adam Jones missed his fifth straight start with rib cage soreness.
NO WORRIES
Tuesday marked the first time this season the Red Sox allowed 10 or more hits. They also were outhit by an opponent for the first time in 2016.
Ortiz said there's no reason to be overly concerned about the team's third straight loss.
"No. Why should I be?" Ortiz said. "We've got a hundred and some more games left. Things going to change. It's early. Don't panic."
COVER UP
Fenway Park is the latest park to install cameras in the bullpens, but a television feed of the Orioles' bullpen camera was obscured by a towel tied around it. The feed of Baltimore's bullpen shown in the Red Sox dugout had only color block bars instead of a live image. The same thing occurred during Monday's series opener, but Showalter said before Tuesday's game that he was unaware anything was taking place. "I would tell you if I knew about it, but I'll find out," he said.
UP NEXT
Orioles: RHP Ubaldo Jimenez (1-0) will make his second start of the season. He struck out nine in seven innings in his debut against the Twins.
Red Sox: RHP Joe Kelly (0-0) is looking to bounce back after allowing seven earned runs on seven hits in three innings.
BAL Wins 2-1
Game Information
- Umpires:
- Home Plate Umpire - CB Bucknor
- First Base Umpire - Jim Reynolds
- Second Base Umpire - Manny Gonzalez
- Third Base Umpire - Fieldin Culbreth