Red Sox power their way to win over Orioles; key takeaways from opening road series

The Red Sox ended their opening road trip the same way it started, with a win. Boston took the final two games of their series with the Orioles, capped off by an 8-4 win on Thursday afternoon.

Boston came into Baltimore reeling, having dropped three of four to the Rangers, in desperate need of offense, especially cashing in on runners in scoring position. Tuesday's built-in day off allowed the team to level-set, giving the offense a boost.

With the first road trip in the books, the Red Sox will head home and welcome the St. Louis Cardinals to Fenway Park for a three-game series, and then the Toronto Blue Jays next week.

Here’s a look at Thursday’s win and some thoughts and takeaways from the Sox’ opening road trip.

THE OFFENSE DELIVERS

Kristian Campbell homered in the second inning off Orioles veteran starter Charlie Morton; it was his second blast of the season. The two-run shot went 389 feet over the left field wall, leaving his bat at 104.1 mph. The rookie also added a single up the middle in the fourth inning.

Campbell’s second home run of the year gave him six extra-base hits in his first seven games, tying him for the most in team history, behind former Sox’ third baseman and current NESN analyst Will Middlebrooks, who had seven to begin his career.

Alex Cora said he spoke to Triston Casas in Spanish on Wednesday, citing when he speaks to his young slugger, it’s meant to grab his attention. He told the 25-year-old that he was being too passive at the plate, and he needed to be more aggressive in his at-bats.

Casas, who entered the series finale in Baltimore 2-for-21 with no extra-base hits and nine strikeouts, he seemed to get the message from his skipper. After striking out looking in the first, Casas was able to drive a 93.9 mph four-seam fastball from Morton into left field. The first of his opposite-field hits on the afternoon. He struck out in the fifth but was finally able to deliver a big hit in the seventh, crushing a 92.9 fastball offering from Orioles southpaw Keegan Akin over the wall in left field. Casas’ first homer went 377 feet and had an exit velocity of 101.4 mph off his bat.

“Being selective, it’s a two-way street. It’s a push and a pull,” Casas said. “You can’t have too much of one thing because they’ll take advantage of it, and too much of the other isn’t productive. It’s something I’ll bounce around with throughout the season.”

The first baseman finished the afternoon 2-for-5 with the homer, two RBI, and two strikeouts.

Alex Bregman, who entered the game just 1-for-14 in his career against Morton, hit his first Red Sox homer 397 feet, crushing a 92.1 sinker over the wall in left, putting his new club up 2-0 in the first inning. Rafael Devers helped set up the Bregman blast by working a seven-pitch walk. Bregman who used a torpedo bat yesterday, said postgame he didn’t use the new bat in the series finale.

“I stopped using it,” Bregman said postgame. “I used it yesterday but didn’t use it today. I used my normal bat today.”

He went 3-for-5 with a homer, two doubles, three RBIs, and two runs.

“We will hit,” Cora said following the game. “It’s just a matter of time. (Rafael Devers) getting locked in. Alex (Bregman) hitting balls in the air to the pull side. (Kristian Cambell and Tristan Casas)—it’s a tough group. We hit some balls hard throughout the game, and we struck out a lot, too. It was a good game.”

Bregman is looking forward to Friday afternoon's home opener, playing in front of the Fenway Faithful with the name Red Sox across his chest. 

“It’s gonna be a blast," he said after the game. "I can’t wait. I’m super excited just first and foremost tonight being able to see my wife and son. I haven’t seen ‘em in like a month and a half. So that’ll be great. And obviously the ballpark tomorrow is gonna be rocking, so I can’t wait to get there."

Despite putting eight runs on the board, the Sox did strike out 11 times, including 10 times to Morton. Boston leads the American League with 75 strikeouts through just seven games.

WHAT THE HOUCK!

For the second straight start, Tanner Houck wasn’t particularly sharp. The Sox’ righty went four-plus frames, allowing three runs off five hits (one home run) with two walks while striking out just two. His command was an issue, hitting a batter to go along with his two free passes.

Houck allowed his third home run this season in the first inning to Cedric Mullins. He allowed just 11 all last season; he’s seen three balls fly over the fence in just 9 2/3 innings. Over his first two starts, the 2024 All-Star has posted an ugly 6.23 ERA with eight strikeouts to five walks. Opposing hitters are hitting the ball hard off him, recording a .324 batting average off him over that span.

With the Red Sox leading 5-3, reliever Zack Kelly was summoned to replace Houck and instantly induced a 4-6-3 double play to end the inning.

The Red Sox bullpen was impressive again, allowing just one run in five innings. Justin Wilson worked a scoreless inning with a strikeout, earning a hold. Justin Slaten gave up one hit and had a strikeout with Garrett Whitlock working two innings, allowing an earned run off one hit with a walk and three strikeouts.

TAKEAWAYS FROM FIRST ROAD TRIP

Campbell looks like he’s for real. He came out of the gate scalding hot. In the middle of his first week in the big leagues, he signed an eight-year, $60 million extension that includes two options that could see the deal reach $100 million.

The 22-year-old has looked disciplined at the plate, starting with his first Major League hit he collected on Opening Day in Arlington, Texas. He hit his first two career home runs on the road, the first being a fourth-inning blast to left-center on Saturday night. His second came on Thursday, helping to lead Boston to the win. Overall, he’s 10-for-24 (.417) with a .500 on-base percentage with two homers, four doubles, six runs, four RBI, four walks, and five strikeouts.

The Red Sox bullpen has been a lockdown unit over the first seven games, owning an American League-best 2.05 ERA.

Garrett Crochet looked like an ace on Wednesday night, tossing eight scoreless innings en route to his first win as a member of the Red Sox. The lefty struck out eight and walked one, throwing 68 pitches, 102 for strikes, as he dominated the Orioles lineup.

His first start in Texas was just okay, but he pitched well enough to keep his team in the game. On Wednesday night, he demonstrated his elite potential as a pitcher, working into the eighth inning for the first time in his career. He capped off the road trip by signing a six-year, $170-million deal to remain with the Red Sox through 2032.

Devers finally was able to exhale after snapping an 0-for-19 hitless streak with 15 strikeouts, crushing an RBI double off Orioles starter Zach Eflin in the fifth on Wednesday night.

“Whew, we all needed that one,’ Cora said. “The at-bats are getting better. He walked twice the other day. The foul ball he hit — that one caught my attention. He put some good swings on it. Got a breaking ball in the zone, put a good swing, and then the line drive we’ve been looking for in five days. … Hit it hard and did an outstanding job.”

A smile lit up Devers’ face following his hit, erasing his horrific start to the season. He finished the night 2-for-4 with a double and RBI and went 1-for-4 with two runs scored, a walk, and a strikeout on Thursday.

Boston needs their middle-of-the-order sluggers to hit. Casas’ slow start was overshadowed by Devers. His 2-for-5 afternoon on Thursday is something to build off of, but to Cora’s credit, Casas has looked passive at the plate.

Trevor Story began the season just 2-for-15 with one walk, six strikeouts, and no extra-base hits. The veteran shortstop had a breakout game on Wednesday night, opening the scoring with a 394-foot homer in the second inning and finishing the night 3-for-4. 

He’s been aggressive at the plate; that aggressiveness paid off against the Orioles.

“You see the way I’ve been attacked. It’s a trend, for sure,” Story said. “I’m ready to hit up there. … It’s a fine balance. Naturally, I’m an aggressive hitter. I like to be ready to go from the first pitch. But with that, you still have to be selective.”

Story said this week in Baltimore that his shoulder feels fine and he hasn’t experienced any discomfort.

“Health-wise, ability-wise, everything is good,” he said. “I would say it’s just more of, call it approach, call it intent. A little shift there can go a long way.”

Friday’s home opener is set for a 2 p.m. first pitch with Walker Buehler on the mound.