The Boston Red Sox fell to 0-1 on the 2023 season after a 10-9 loss to the Baltimore Orioles on Opening Day at Fenway Park. Boston got to within one run in the ninth inning due to some shaky pitching and defense by Baltimore, but closer Felix Bautista was able to strike out Adam Duvall to shut the door.

Despite rallying in the late innings, the Red Sox ultimately couldn’t make up for a rough pitching performance to kick off the season.

Opening Day starter Corey Kluber got off to the worst start possible, giving up a leadoff home run to the Orioles’ budding star catcher, Adley Rutschman. Kluber dished an 87-mph four-seam fastball right over the plate, and Rutschman took it out to right field for an

Adley Rutschman's first swing of 2023 resulted in a 104.5 mph home run with a projected distance of 402 feet. He is good.

• Kluber exited after just 3.1 innings and finished with five earned runs allowed. Typically an efficient strike-thrower, Kluber walked four, and the Red Sox staff totaled nine free passes. That tied the franchise record for most walks they’ve ever issued on Opening Day.

  The Red Sox chipped away later in the game, with seven of their nine runs coming in the sixth inning or later. One bright spot was newcomer Masataka Yoshida, who went 2-for-4 with his first major-league RBI.

• Masataka Yoshida makes some noise in his @RedSox debut! #OpeningDay pic.twitter.com/2yu9SN7VH3

  — MLB (@MLB) March 30, 2023

• The Sox and Orioles will get a quick day off on Friday, before resuming their season-opening three game series on Saturday at Fenway, with a start time of 4:10 p.m.

  Click here for complete Boston Red Sox coverage at 985TheSportsHub.com.

  Matt Dolloff is a writer and podcaster for 985TheSportsHub.com. Any opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of 98.5 The Sports Hub, Beasley Media Group, or any subsidiaries. Have a news tip, question, or comment for Matt? Yell at him on Twitter @mattdolloff and follow him on Instagram @realmattdolloff. Check out all of Matt’s content here.

Sign me up for the 98.5 The Sports Hub email newsletter!

Get the latest Boston sports news and analysis, plus exclusive on-demand content and special giveaways from Boston's Home for Sports, 98.5 The Sports Hub.

First Name *

Last Name

Email *

Subscribe

By clicking "Subscribe" I agree to the website's terms of Service and Privacy Policy. I understand I can unsubscribe at any time.