O's build big early lead and hang on to take series

Heading into this series, the Orioles had only won two of the last 13 series against the Boston Red Sox. They went 7-12 against Boston last year and 4-6 at Fenway Park. Then they got blasted 13-2 on opening night.

But behind two wins on back-to-back days, the 2020 Orioles are off to a 2-1 start and have a rare series win against Boston. They got more early offense today and another solid starting pitcher effort in a 6-4 victory. They built a five-run lead and held on for the win.

Now they head south to play at Miami the next two nights to complete the season-opening road trip before Wednesday's home opener.

Just like yesterday, some aggressive early-count swinging helped get the offense going. Rio Ruiz hit a two-run homer to right in the first off Ryan Weber for a 2-0 lead. It was No. 2 for Ruiz as he hit an 85 mph cutter 388 feet for Baltimore's second homer of the season.

Christian Vázquez hit one out in the Boston second against Baltimore lefty Wade LeBlanc and it was 2-1. The O's got that run back on a José Iglesias RBI double to left in the third.

Batting third, the O's shortstop went 4-for-5 with two doubles, a run and an RBI, and he is 7-for-13 (.538) on the year.

The O's used a bunt and a blast to play key roles in a three-run top of the fourth. Renato Núñez singled to lead off the frame and Chance Sisco walked. Batting ninth, DJ Stewart dropped a perfect sac bunt to advance both, and when Austin Hays drove a ball deep to center, Núñez scored for the 4-1 edge. Batting next, Anthony Santander worked the count deep and hit the eighth pitch, a 3-2 changeup, out to right for his first homer. It was a two-run shot and 6-1 Baltimore.

That was 13 runs in 13 innings for the Orioles from the start of Saturday's game through the fourth inning today.

LeBlanc's final line showed four runs and four hits over 5 2/3 innings, but it looked and felt much better than that. Two runs scored after LeBlanc left the game. He gave up two solo homers before leaving with two outs and runners at second and third in the sixth. Xander Bogaerts, who struck out as a pinch-hitter in a key spot Saturday against Miguel Castro, today singled in those two runs off him, and Boston was within just 6-4.

They rallied from down 6-1 after four innings to get to within two runs in the sixth. But Castro and Tanner Scott combined for a 1-2-3 seventh inning, which served to slow some of Boston's momentum. Cole Sulser came on with a man on and none out in the eighth to make his O's debut and pitched a scoreless inning. He got a big double play and then, after an Iglesias error, kept his poise to get the third out facing the top of the order. Nice debut.

Chris Davis got his first hit of the year, snapping an 0-for-10 with an RBI double off the top of the green monster in the ninth. That gave the O's an insurance run and a 7-4 lead.

Sulser stayed on to pitch the ninth and record his first major league save. The series win was secure and the Orioles will get ready to head to Miami.