BOSTON -- Colton Cowser drove in four runs, Corbin Burnes allowed two hits over seven innings and the Baltimore Orioles beat Boston 7-1 on Tuesday in the Red Sox's home opener.
Cowser had a pair of RBI doubles, the second driving in two runs in the fourth inning to break a 1-1 tie. He added a sacrifice fly in the eighth to help the Orioles stop a two-game skid.
Burnes (2-0) struck out six and walked two, giving up Tyler O'Neill's sixth home run of the season in the first inning. O'Neill began the season by homering for his fifth straight opening day, a major league record.
"He hung a breaking ball to O'Neill, but besides that -- two hits through seven innings -- total command in a tight game," Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde said. "Punched out a bunch. That's No. 1 starter stuff right there."
Adley Rutschman, Anthony Santander and Cedric Mullins added RBI singles for the Orioles.
Baltimore finished with 13 hits and scored its first four runs with two outs. The Orioles were 8 for 15 with runners in scoring position and their pitchers retired Boston's final 18 batters. Baltimore managed 10 hits in dropping the final two games of its prior series against Pittsburgh.
"We haven't really been able to string a lot of quality at-bats in a row. Today we were able to kind of move that train a little bit," Cowser said.
Brayan Bello (1-1) was charged with 3 runs -- 1 earned -- and 4 hits over 5 1/3 innings for Boston, which opened with a 7-3 West Coast trip. Left fielder Jarren Duran dropped an easy popup by Mullins with two outs in the fourth, and Cowser followed with his two-run double. Cowser hit his other RBI double in the second.
"If I make that play, we get out of the inning and then none of the other things happen," Duran said.
Red Sox shortstop Trevor Story will have what is likely season-ending surgery on his dislocated left shoulder. Story was placed on the 10-day injured list after dislocating his left shoulder Friday at the Los Angeles Angels. Projected recovery time is six months.
The plan is to "platoon" players at shortstop and second base with Story out. Romy Gonzalez and David Hamilton will see time at shortstop and Emmanuel Valdez and Pablo Reyes are expected to split the duties at second.
Boston Red Sox's Tyler O'Neill runs on his solo home run during the first inning of an opening day baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Brayan Bello pitches against the Baltimore Orioles in the first inning during an opening day baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Cedric Mullins (31) steals second base as Boston Red Sox's David Hamilton gets the late throw during the second inning of an opening day baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Boston Red Sox's Enmanuel Valdez lies on the field as Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser (17) is called safe with a two-run double during the fourth inning of an opening day baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Children of former Boston Red Sox's Tim Wakefield, Brianna, left, and Trevor carry the World Series trophy after Brianna threw out the ceremonial first pitch during pre-game ceremonies before an opening-day baseball game at Fenway Park against the Baltimore Orioles, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Gunnar Henderson scores in front of Boston Red Sox's Reese McGuire ion a single by Anthony Santander during the ninth inning of an opening-day baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)
Baltimore Orioles' Colton Cowser (17), Cedric Mullins (31) and Austin Hays (21) celebrate after defeating the Boston Red Sox during an opening-day baseball game at Fenway Park, Tuesday, April 9, 2024, in Boston. (AP Photo/Michael Dwyer)