Not tonight: O's losing streak reaches five

The Orioles might have thought and hoped that a new series and a clean slate would help them end a losing streak. And they would get a shot to do it against the last-place Boston Red Sox.

But nothing went according to such a plan.

The Orioles could not hit Boston right-hander Nathan Eovaldi again and their own mistakes again contributed to a loss. Boston beat the Orioles 7-1 to open a four-game series. A four-run ninth broke open what was a close game.

The O's fall to 12-13, have now lost five in a row and are 1-6 in the last seven games. They fall under the .500 mark for the first time since they were 6-7 on Aug. 7. They have scored two runs or less in three of the past four games.

The Red Sox came into this game with the worst pitching in the majors - a team ERA of 6.22 to rank last among 30 major league clubs. They ended a nine-game losing streak yesterday, and during that streak, they allowed 86 runs, giving up 10 or more four times

They defied such stats tonight.

After Anthony Santander made a leaping catch at the right-field wall to strand two Boston runners in the top of the first, the O's had a big chance in the home half. They loaded the bases, but Pat Valaika grounded out to end that threat.

In the Boston second, the Red Sox scored twice and their rally was Oriole aided. Christian Vázquez led off with a fly ball to left-center and it fell in as center fielder Cedric Mullins' diving attempt camp up short. But it appeared that Valaika in left had a clear chance to catch the ball. Maybe that briefly unnerved starter Asher Wojciechowski, who walked the next batter. One out later No. 9 hitter José Peraza singled for a 1-0 lead. With runners on first and third and one out, Alex Verdugo hit a grounder to Hanser Alberto at second. It might have been a double play ball. We'll never know because Alberto bobbled the ball briefly before getting just one out at first base as the second run scored.

An inning later, a Xander Bogaerts solo homer to left made it 3-0. He hit the ball just over the wall, a distance of 366 feet from home. It had an expected batting average of just .190, meaning that fly ball would be an out in most parks, but not Camden Yards.

Eovaldi began the night with an ERA of 5.93 and had given up eight runs and three home runs in 5 1/3 innings his last time out versus the Yankees. But on this night, he allowed just one run in seven innings on 97 pitches.

The O's will have to wait until Friday night to try again to end their losing streak.

A few other notes on the game:

* Santander singled to left in the first inning to extend his hitting streak to 15 games. Santander is on a quite a roll batting in the first inning lately. Over the last seven games, he has gone 6-for-6 with a double, three homers, four RBIs and a walk in the opening inning.

* The O's fall to 3-6 in series opening games. They are just 4-11 at home.

* Baltimore right-hander Dillon Tate had a strong outing in long relief. He pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings on one hit with one walk and three strikeouts. He threw 44 pitches, 26 for strikes. Tate got seven whiffs on 20 swings, including on three of eight sliders. His fastball averaged 93.7 mph, per Statcast.

* Over the last nine games, the O's starting rotation has an ERA of 7.04. In that span, starters have five outings of four innings or less. That is not going to get it done.

* O's 'pen lefty Tanner Scott had was on his way to another strong outing but two runners were charged to him after he left the game in the ninth. Right-hander Miguel Castro gave up a three-run homer to Mitch Moreland.

So Scott has now tossed 9 1/3 innings, allowing two runs on two hits. He pitched out of a one-out jam with runners on second and third in the Boston eighth. Opponents are now 0-for-13 against him with runners in scoring position and he has stranded all 12 of his inherited runners in 2020.