BOSTON _ Orioles first baseman Chris Davis' nightmare start ended with a two-out single in the first inning of Saturday's game against the Boston Red Sox. That halted a hitless start to the season, where he set major league records for consecutive at-bats (54) and plate appearances (62) without a hit dating to 2018.
Davis nearly ended the streak with a pinch-hit opportunity in the ninth inning Friday night. But he didn't leave it to chance Saturday, singling to right field on a 1-0 change-up from Red Sox right-hander Rick Porcello, and drawing applause from the crowd at Fenway Park.
The Orioles had loaded the bases with a double by Trey Mancini and walks by Dwight Smith Jr. and Rio Ruiz. Mancini and Smith scored on Davis' single.
Once he was safe at first base, Davis tipped his helmet to the Orioles' dugout. Infielder Jonathan Villar had hopped the railing and was celebrating on the dirt in front of the dugout. Davis motioned as if he wanted the baseball.
After Hanser Alberto grounded into a force to end the inning, Davis went into the dugout to get his own hat and glove, where he was congratulated by the relievers on their way out to the bullpen and hugged by right fielder Trey Mancini.
It was Davis' first hit since Sept. 14, 2018 against the Chicago White Sox. He broke the major league record for consecutive at-bats without a hit when his streak reached 47 on Monday, and the record of 56 plate appearances without a hit was eclipsed Thursday.
Davis' hitless streak lasted 210 days, and ended on a day when he accounted for most of the Orioles' early offense. Davis also doubled in the fifth inning on a deep drive to the warning track in right-center field, scoring Renato Nunez.
