O’Neill, Orioles top Red Sox in Baltimore’s home opener
BALTIMORE — Tyler O’Neill had four hits in his home debut for Baltimore, and the Orioles used a pair of big offensive innings to beat the Boston Red Sox 8-5 on Monday.
Baltimore scored four runs in the first and four more in the eighth in its home opener, and the Orioles’ bullpen threw 4 2/3 innings. Matt Bowman, Seranthony Domínguez (1-0), Keegan Akin and Yennier Cano blanked Boston in relief. Then Félix Bautista came on for the ninth to a big ovation — the big closer missed all of last season because of Tommy John surgery.
Bautista allowed two runs and had to face Alex Bregman as the tying run with two on. Bregman hit a game-ending popup.
Orioles starter Cade Povich allowed three runs in 4 1/3 innings but struck out eight. Sean Newcomb (0-1) threw three shutout innings after allowing four runs in the first in his Boston debut.
Baltimore began the bottom of the first with four straight singles, including RBI hits by O’Neill and Ryan Mountcastle. Cedric Mullins added a two-out, two-run double to make it 4-0.
“Anytime we’re putting up 15 hits on the board, it’s going to be a fun time for the offense,” O’Neill said. “A lot of multihit games all up and down the lineup. Creating a lot of traffic today.”
O’Neill, who signed with the Orioles in the offseason, had three singles and a double.
