Orioles look to snap a Boston win streak in home openers today

The Orioles will try to put an end to a two-game losing streak today and a Red Sox streak as well. The Red Sox have won their last eight home openers since 2005, the longest streak in club history and the longest active streak among major league teams. Boston is 16-4 in home openers since 1993. By the way, with Boston at 4-2 and in first place, yes it's very early, but it's fair to ask this: Are the Red Sox in for a big turnaround season after going 69-93 and finishing in last place in 2012? They had an impressive spring training, one where they led all of the majors in team ERA at 3.94 and with a starters' ERA of 2.82. Then Boston began the year by taking two of three each on the road from the Yankees and Blue Jays and that puts the Red Sox in sole possession of first place in the American League East. Clay Buchholz, who pitched a no-hitter against the Orioles in his second major league game on Sept. 1, 2007, faces them this afternoon. Buchholz has three career shutouts and all have come against the Orioles. Over his last nine starts against Baltimore, he is 5-1 with a 2.67 ERA and he has allowed one run or less to the club in seven of 14 career starts vs. Baltimore. Both teams have been good on offense through six games: Boston: 36 runs, .290 average, eight homers, .837 OPS Orioles: 37 runs, .301 average, seven homers, .826 OPS Some other notes on the Sox: * The team has played error-free ball so far, beginning the season with six straight errorless games for the first time since 1957. * Boston has won its first two series for the first time since 2006. * Former Oriole Koji Uehara has put together a streak of 16 straight scoreless appearances since last Sept. 1. In that time, he has pitched 13 2/3 innings, giving up just two hits with 21 strikeouts. * The Red Sox have scored six runs or more four times and produced 10 hits or more four times. * Stephen Drew and David Ortiz are among several players on Boston's current disabled list. The Orioles went 13-5 against Boston last year, including a mark of 7-2 in Boston. Since July 19, 2011, the Orioles are 19-8 against Boston with a record of 9-5 in Baltimore and 10-3 at Boston. The Orioles' three-game sweep in Boston early last May was their first Fenway Park three-game sweep since June 1994. Quiet early: The game was scoreless through four and a half innings as Wei-Yin Chen and Buchholz are putting up zeroes. You wouldn't know these clubs rank second (O's at 37) and third (Boston at 36) in the AL in runs scored beginning today. Oakland began the day as league leader with 38. Chen threw 13 pitches in the first, 23 in the second, eight in the third and 12 in the fourth. He had a long battle with Jonny Gomes in the second before getting him out with a 10-pitch at-bat.