August 15, 2024; Baltimore, MD, USA; Baltimore Orioles shortstop Gunnar Henderson (2) during the fourth inning against the Boston Red Sox at Oriole Park at Camden Yards Reacting after hitting two home runs. Mandatory Credit: Mitch Stringer-USA TODAY Sports Gunnar Henderson and Cedric Mullins hit home runs, Zach Eflin continued his stellar performance on the mound, and the Baltimore Orioles beat the visiting Boston Red Sox 5-1 team, kicking off a four-game series Thursday night.
Colton Cowser and Henderson each had two hits for the Orioles, who won their second straight game and tied with the idle New York Yankees for first place in the American League East.
Eflin (9-7) is 4-0 with a 2.13 ERA in four starts since joining the Orioles from the Tampa Bay Rays at the trade deadline. He allowed one run in six innings against Boston, allowing five hits and no walks while striking out eight.
Baltimore’s four relievers combined to hold off the Red Sox over the final three innings.
Homer Wilyer Abreu and Ceddanne Rafaela each had two hits for Boston, which has lost two straight games and its last eight. Lost six games.
Nick Pivetta (5-8) took the loss, going five innings and allowing three runs on three hits, striking out six and walking four balls. He had won eight of his previous 10 career starts against Baltimore.
Henderson’s home run total for the season increased to 31, and he had deep performances in back-to-back games for the first time since June 25 and 26 against the Cleveland Guard.
The Orioles have won six of seven games against Boston this year.
Abreu hit his 14th home run of the season in the fourth inning to open the scoring and continued with several long balls.
In the bottom half of the inning, after Anthony Santander drew a walk, Henderson hit a two-run double to right to give the Orioles a 2-1 lead.
Mullins led off the fifth inning with his 13th home run of the season.
In the sixth inning, Santander doubled up and Ryan Mountcastle hit a single to make the score 4-1.
Cowser hit a two-run RBI double in the seventh inning off Chase Shugart, who was making his major league debut out of the Boston bullpen. The 27-year-old right-hander allowed one run in 2 2/3 innings.
–Scene-level media
