Limited to two hits -- the first in their first at-bat and their second with two outs in the ninth -- the Red Sox were blanked by the Baltimore Orioles, 3-0 in their 2021 season opener.
Baltimore starter John Means allowed two baserunners over seven innings -- Kiké Hernández singled to lead off the first and Xander Bogaerts reached on an infield error to open the second -- and earned the win.
It was the first shutout loss for the Red Sox in their season opener since 1976 -- also a loss to Baltimore.
Nathan Eovaldi allowed just one run over 5.1 innings but suffered the loss. Baltimore scored two in the sixth when reliever Matt Andriese issued a walk, had a runner reach on an error and allowed a two-run double to Ryan Mountcastle.
The Orioles added an insurance run off Josh Taylor in the eighth.
WHO: Red Sox (0-0) vs. Baltimore Orioles (0-0)
WHEN: 2:10 p.m.
WHERE: Fenway Park
SEASON SERIES TO DATE: 0-0
STARTING PITCHERS: RHP Nathan Eovaldi vs. LHP John Means
TV/RADIO: NESN; WEEI-FM
LINEUPS
ORIOLES
Mullins CF
Mancini 1B
Santander RF
Mountcastle DH
Ruiz 2B
Hays LF
Franco 3B
Galvis SS
Severino C
RED SOX
Hernandez 2B
Verdugo CF
Martinez DH
Bogaerts SS
Devers 3B
Renfroe RF
Gonzalez LF
Vazquez C
Dalbec 1B
