Duvall hits 2nd 2-run homer, giving Red Sox 9-8 victory over Orioles
Ken Powtak, Associated Press
BOSTON — Adam Duvall ended the game with his second two-run homer after left fielder Ryan McKenna dropped a two-out fly in the ninth, giving the Boston Red Sox a 9-8 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Saturday.
Duvall had four hits and five RBIs.
Baltimore stole five bases and became the first team to steal 10 in its first two games since at least 1901. Jorge Mateo swiped two, and Cedric Mullins, Ryan McKenna and Austin Hays one each.
Mullins hit a three-run homer, Ryan Mountcastle had a two-run shot and the Orioles tagged Chris Sale for seven runs over three innings in his first Fenway Park start since 2021.
Baltimore led 8-7 when McKenna dropped Masataka Yoshida's routine fly. Duvall lined hit shot just over the Green Monster against Félix Bautista (0-1).
Hays went 5 for 5 with a solo shot for the Orioles, who won Thursday's opener 10-9 after opening a six-run lead.
Baltimore took a 7-1 lead on Mullins homer before Boston rallied behind Duvall, who fell a single shy of the cycle. Rafael Devers had three hits and Alex Verdugo a two-homer homer for the Red Sox, who cut it to 8-7 in the seventh on Duvall's RBI double.
Making his first start in Fenway since a loss in Game 5 of the 2021 AL Championship Series, Sale gave up three homers. He did have six strikeouts, getting Ramón Urías three of his five times. Kenley Jansen (1-0) got the win.
Baltimore's Andy Rutschman went 1 for 5 with a single in his first at-bat after going 5 for 5 and reaching base six times in the opener.
With a very light rain falling and the sun peeking through the clouds, Sale took his warmups in Boston's bullpen.
About 30 minutes later, he found himself in a 3-0 hole after giving up homers to Mountcastle — a shot into the Green Monster seats on a slider down the middle— and Hays' drive to center on a 95.7 mph fastball.
Sale made just two starts last year. The left-hander broke the pinkie on his pitching hand when he hit by a line drive from the Yankees' Aaron Hicks, and Sale's season ended when he broke his right wrist in a bike accident.
THAT'S WHAT IT TAKES
The Red Sox finally got Rutschman out when third baseman Devers made a charging barehand grab on a slow roller, with first baseman Triston Casas making a scoop on a close play with two runners on.
TAKE TWO
McKenna made a diving catch on Kiké Hernández's liner after Mountcastle's diving snag on a grounder of the previous batter, Reese McGuire.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: Mateo injured his right hand on a headfirst slide but stayed in the game.
Red Sox: RHP Garrett Whitlock (recovering from hip surgery in September) pitched four innings for Triple-A Worcester in a rehab start on Friday. Manager Alex Cora said he'll start for Double-A Portland next in the Sea Dogs' opener Thursday and "most likely that'll be his last one before joining us."
UP NEXT
LHP Cole Irvin is set to make his Orioles debut and start Sunday afternoon's series finale. Baltimore traded shortstop prospect Darell Hernaiz for him in January. RHP Tanner Houck is scheduled for the Red Sox.
