BALTIMORE _ Faced with the prospect of owning a losing record for the first time in three weeks, the Orioles suffered a listless 7-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox on Thursday night at Camden Yards.
Now losers of five straight games a week after an impressive six-game winning streak brought them into this homestand with hope abound, their relentless offense has lost most of its fight.
Thursday's defeat featured none of the base-running blunders or defensive miscues that littered the week's previous losses. The Orioles (12-13) simply created few chances, didn't capitalize when they did and fell victim to some tough batted-ball luck in the field.
Singles by Anthony Santander and Renato Nunez in the first inning, plus a two-out walk by Rio Ruiz, loaded the bases for the Orioles in the early going before Pat Valaika grounded out on the first pitch.
They'd get just one more runner to second base all game after Cedric Mullins bunted his way on and went to second on a bunt by Andrew Velazquez in the second inning.
Nathan Eovaldi, who shut the Orioles down on Opening Day in Boston, had allowed 17 runs in his four starts since. He was back to a more impressive form Thursday, with a leadoff home run in the seventh inning by Valaika the only blemish on his night.
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In a week in which the Orioles' starters vowed to start pitching deeper into games, Asher Wojciechowski never got a chance to. The Red Sox (8-18) fouled him off all game, forcing a 24-pitch first inning before they got to him in the second.
A towering fly ball fell between Valaika in left field and a diving Mullins in center to put the leadoff man on, and he came around to score on a blooper over second base by Jose Peraza. Instead of an inning-ending double play on the next batter, Hanser Alberto could only get the out at first after the ball stuck in his glove, allowing another run to score.
Xander Bogaerts homered into the first row of seats in left field to account for Boston's third run to open the third inning, and Wojciechowski was pulled with two outs in the fourth on 88 pitches.
