BOSTON -- The struggles at home continued for the Boston Red Sox, who fell to 9-20 at Fenway Park and 25-34 on the season after a 4-2 loss to the Baltimore Orioles in Tuesday night's series opener. It was the home run ball that bit Red Sox starter Connelly Early, powering Baltimore to the win. 

After not allowing a home run in his first seven major league starts (dating back to last season), the home run has been a major problem for Early, who had allowed nine in his last eight starts entering Tuesday night's start. That problem persisted against a very good Baltimore lineup, as the Orioles scored three of their four runs off the 24-year-old rookie via the long ball. 

With Boston leading 1-0 in the top of the second inning, Baltimore third baseman Coby Mayo took a 3-2 curveball and golfed it just barely onto the ledge of the Green Monster for a leadoff home run to tie the game at 1-1. 

With the game still tied at one, Early once again found himself in trouble in the top of the third inning. After getting Orioles star Gunnar Henderson to ground out to lead off the inning, catcher Adley Rutschman ripped a single to center, setting the stage for first baseman Pete Alonso to show the Red Sox what they missed out on by not signing him this offseason. The 31-year-old slugger launched a 2-2 change-up that caught far too much of the plate 110 mph into the Green Monster to give Baltimore a 3-1 lead. 

"Execution was here and there today, it was a 50-50 night," Early told reporters after the loss. "Did really good executing in certain counts, and in certain innings, and then did a not-so-good job, and they capitalized on that," he continued. 

Early settled down after the third inning, allowing just one hit and one run on a sacrifice fly in his final three innings of work, but the two home runs were enough for Baltimore. Starter Shane Baz silenced the Boston bats en route to the 4-2 win. 

After Tuesday's outing, Early has allowed 11 home runs in his last nine starts, good for a 1.90 HR/9, good for the seventh-highest rate in the sport during that span. Overall, Early's 1.49 HR/9 ranks as the 14th-highest mark in baseball. 

Early was asked about his tendency to get beaten by the home run recently, telling reporters that he is "still trying to figure that one out." 

The Red Sox will look to shake off their struggles at Fenway Park on Wednesday night in game two of this three-game set with the Orioles. Rookie left-hander Payton Tolle (2-2, 2.61 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite veteran righty Chris Bassitt (4-3, 5.06 ERA) for Baltimore. First pitch from Fenway Park set for 6:45 p.m. ET. 

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