BOSTON — The Orioles’ outfield blunders at Fenway Park at last caught up to them in Saturday’s ninth inning.
With two outs, nobody on base and the Orioles leading the Boston Red Sox by one, closer Félix Bautista induced a soft fly ball to left, but Ryan McKenna dropped it. A batter later, Adam Duvall hit his second home run of the game, giving Boston a walk-off 9-8 victory.
The Orioles’ outfield defense has been suspect throughout the team’s first two games, with McKenna’s drop joining poor routes and misreads.
The ending overshadowed a day in which the Orioles (1-1) became the first team since at least 1901 to steal 10 bases over the first two games of the season as they blew a 7-1 lead.
Right-hander Dean Kremer allowed five runs on six hits with one walk and three strikeouts in his season debut.
Around the horn
— The Orioles listed their starters for their upcoming road series against the Texas Rangers as right-handers Kyle Bradish, Tyler Wells and Kyle Gibson. That lines up Kremer to start Thursday’s home opener against the New York Yankees.
— Reliever Mychal Givens, who opened the season on the 15-day injured list with left knee inflammation, is “improving daily,” manager Brandon Hyde said, and should have a side session off a mound in the middle of next week.
— Corner infielder/outfielder Josh Lester, among the Orioles’ final spring training cuts, hit three home runs for Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday after homering in the team’s opener Friday.
— The Orioles’ other three full-season minor league affiliates announced their break camp rosters Saturday. Notably, 2020 second-overall pick Heston Kjerstad is set to start the year at Double-A Bowie after ending last season with High-A Aberdeen, and 2022 first-overall selection Jackson Holliday will return to Low-A Delmarva to begin his first full season in the organization.
