Sports

Orioles blast Red Sox, 8-2, as lineup and Trevor Rogers keep momentum alive

By Jacob Calvin Meyer, Baltimore Sun The Tribune Content Agency

Updated June 4, 2026 5:43 PM

Baltimore Orioles pitcher Trevor Rogers (28) throws in the first inning against the Boston Red Sox at Fenway Park on Thursday, June 4, 2026, in Boston. (Jaiden Tripi/Getty Images/TNS) Jaiden Tripi TNS

BOSTON - In a series between the American League East's two worst teams, the Orioles proved it is the Red Sox who are the true cellar-dwellers.

Baltimore on Thursday defeated Boston, 8-2, behind a six-run first inning and a sharp start from Trevor Rogers. The Orioles (30-33) will leave Beantown with a series victory after taking two of three, pushing the Red Sox (26-35) further into last place in the division.

Wednesday's 8-1 defeat - the Orioles' 10th lopsided loss this season - had the potential to stunt the momentum the club built up over the past two weeks. After the Orioles were swept by the Tampa Bay Rays two weeks ago to fall to eight games below .500, they won eight of their next 11 games, including Tuesday's series opener.

But on Wednesday, starting pitcher Chris Bassitt struggled and was injured; the offense came up empty with runners in scoring position; and the Orioles made several small mistakes on defense and on the bases.

Instead of letting Wednesday's loss carry over to Thursday's matinee, the offense pounded Red Sox starter Brayan Bello from the first pitch. Taylor Ward smacked a double off the center-field wall to lead off the first inning, and thus the quarter was put in the merry-go-round.

Ward's double started a stretch that featured 10 of 11 Orioles batters reaching base to begin the game. Gunnar Henderson was hit by a pitch. Adley Rutschman singled home Ward to put the Orioles up 1-0. After Pete Alonso grounded into a double play, Samuel Basallo walked, and Leody Taveras' Baltimore chop scored Rutschman to double the advantage. Colton Cowser then walked to set up Coby Mayo for a three-run double off the Green Monster. Ward then came up again after a Jackson Holliday walk to smack an RBI single to complete the frame's scoring.

The Orioles entered Thursday's game having scored only 24 runs in the first inning through 62 games this season. Their six runs Thursday marked their most in an opening frame this season, and that output accounts for 20% of their first-inning scoring this season.

Boston had an opportunity to limit the damage, as Basallo appeared to be thrown out at third base on Taveras' single, though he was called safe. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy tried to challenge the play, but it was too late, and the umpires didn't grant it. If they had, Bello would've escaped with only surrendering two runs in the frame. That ruling was far from the first controversial one this week from the umpiring crew.

Ward's single marked the first time an Orioles player recorded two hits in the first inning since Adley Rutschman on July 30, 2023, versus the Yankees. The last time an Oriole accomplished the feat on the road was Jerry Hairston Jr. on Sept. 24, 2003 - also at Fenway Park.

The big first inning was nothing new for the Orioles against Bello. The right-hander has struggled this season, but particularly against Baltimore. In late April, the Orioles tagged Bello for 13 hits and eight runs in 3 1/3 innings, including four runs in the opening frame. In two starts against the Orioles this season, Bello has a 17.28 ERA and a 2.88 WHIP.

The early lead let Rogers settle in, and he had no trouble doing so. The left-hander didn't allow a base runner until the fourth inning or allow a hit until the fifth, ending his outing with only one run allowed in 5 2/3 innings. He began to wilt in the sixth inning, but manager Craig Albernaz didn't make the same mistake as Rogers' last start when he admitted he left the pitcher in too long. He pulled Rogers with two runners on in the sixth, letting Yennier Cano escape the jam.

Rogers posted a 1.81 ERA in 18 starts last season to earn an AL Cy Young Award vote, but he started to falter in mid-April and entered Thursday with a 10.01 ERA over his past seven starts - all Orioles losses. But at the site of the Trevor Rogers Game last year - when Rogers made his season debut, which marked his turnaround and stopped the 2025 Orioles' skid - the southpaw looked like himself again.

Baltimore's bats added two more runs off Bello in the fifth, as Basallo doubled to drive in Alonso and scored on Cowser's sac fly. Both of Boston's runs came off the bat of Wilson Contreras, who singled off Rogers in the sixth and homered off Andrew Kittredge in the ninth.

The Orioles have won or tied each of their past four series to move back in contention for the AL's last wild-card spot. They'll hope to continue that streak this weekend in Toronto against the defending AL-champion Blue Jays.

This story was originally published June 4, 2026 at 5:36 PM.