In their home opener, the Orioles received a solid start from a veteran right-hander, only to watch the lead he left with vanish in the middle innings, while the relievers who followed only added to the deficit.
If that sequence of events sounds familiar, it’s because it happened not only in Thursday’s 7-3 loss to the Boston Red Sox, but also their 2019 home opener. Two years ago, Alex Cobb pitched into the sixth inning with a lead, and the frame ended with the Orioles behind. Matt Harvey went through the same experience Thursday.
The Orioles, like every other team, are facing an unprecedented season, one almost triple the length of the previous one after 2020 was shortened to 60 games because of the coronavirus pandemic.