After dropping two of three to the Seattle Mariners at Fenway Park, the Boston Red Sox bounced back in a big way on Thursday night, beating the Baltimore Orioles 6-5 in the first game of four game series at Camden Yards. The struggling Boston offense was propelled by All-Star catcher Adley Rutschman, who made his return to both the Red Sox lineup after missing the entirety of the series against Seattle, and the place he called home for five seasons. 

Rutschman stepped to the plate with two outs in the first inning to a standing ovation from the 19,720 on hand at Oriole Park. After working a 1-1 count, Rutschman took a curveball on the inside half of the plate from Baltimore starter Brandon Young and launched it 377 feet into right field for his 10th home run of the year, giving the Red Sox an early 1-0 lead. 

After lining out in his second at-bat to lead off the top of the fourth inning, Rutschman came to the plate in his third at-bat with one out in the top of the sixth inning and Boston trailing 3-1 and Young still on the mound. The 28-year-old catcher saw a first-pitch sinker that stayed up in the zone and again launched it 389 feet to right-center for his second solo shot of the game and cut the Orioles' lead in half, 3-2. 

As noted by ESPN's Sarah Langs, Rutschman is the 2nd player since at least 1900 to change teams and homer multiple times in his first career game against the former team in the same season, joining Willis Otanez, who hit multiple home runs against his former team, also the Orioles, as a member of the Blue Jays in 1999. 

Rutschman reached base in his final at-bat of the night with the game tied at three after grounding into a fielder's choice, advancing to second on a throwing error by Baltimore second baseman Blaze Alexander. He would come around to score as the Red Sox took the lead for good on a two-run home run off the bat of Nick Sogard, giving Boston a 5-3 lead.

It's been a rough start to Rutschman's Red Sox career as he's struggled to a slash line of .193/.270/.368/.638 in 16 games since being activated from the injured list on Aug. 11, while continuing to battle a nagging elbow injury. 

The Red Sox and Orioles will be back at it from Camden Yards in game two of a four-game set on Friday night. Ranger Suarez (5-4, 3.64 ERA) will get the start for Boston opposite Shane Baz (5-14, 4.01 ERA) for Baltimore. First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m. ET.