The Orioles have won eight of the last 11 games.
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Boston Red Sox 4-2 on Tuesday night, improving their record to 29-32. It was the Red Sox's eighth loss at home in their last 10 games at Fenway Park.
Shane Baz got the start for Baltimore and turned in an excellent outing. He threw seven innings, allowing two earned runs on four hits while striking out six. Ceddanne Rafaela was the only Boston player to record multiple hits. The Red Sox took a 1-0 lead in the first inning but didn't put another runner in scoring position until the fifth inning after the early addition to the scoreboard.
Coby Mayo tied the game at 1-1 in the second inning with a home run over the Green Monster that was confirmed after a review. It was just the sixth home run of the season for Mayo, who is hitting just below .200.
In the top of the third inning, Pete Alonso left no doubt about his home run, hitting a line drive over the left-field fence for a two-run shot that gave the O's a 3-1 lead.
Per NESN, Alonso is hitting .327 with four home runs and 14 RBIs over his last 14 games. Despite his disappointing .237 batting average, the power numbers are still solid for Alonso, who has been an integral part of the Orioles winning eight of their last 11 games.
Baz relied heavily on his curveball, targeting the back foot of left-handed hitters to generate strikeouts. The victory marked four consecutive quality starts for the 26-year-old, who has a 4.48 ERA this season and a 2.37 ERA in six career starts against the Red Sox.
Reliever Andrew Kittredge entered in the eighth inning, allowing a hit but ultimately posting a scoreless frame. Rico Garcia took over in the ninth, closing out the game and earning the save while helping Baltimore move one game closer to .500.
Samuel Basallo collected another hit, as he has in four of his last five games. Over his last six games, Basallo is hitting .438 with two home runs and a 1.375 OPS. Alonso also added another hit in addition to his early home run.
Chris Bassitt is projected to face Payton Tolle on Wednesday night in Game 2 of the series. Baltimore will try to take advantage of the Red Sox's struggles at home, which have left them with the worst home record in Major League Baseball at 9-20, as the Orioles look to continue their hot streak and win their fourth straight game.
