Adley Rutschman homers twice in return to Baltimore as Red Sox beat Orioles

Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald on Sep 3, 2026

Published in Baseball

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Stepping to the plate at Camden Yards for the first time as an opposing player, Adley Rutschman was greeted by a rousing ovation from the Baltimore fans. The three-time All-Star tipped his cap to the crowd and then hit the third pitch he saw from former teammate Brandon Young out for a solo home run.

Many in the crowd continued to cheer Rutschman as he rounded the bases, an apparent acknowledgment of the moment’s significance even if it came at the Orioles’ expense.

But by the time Rutschman was finished, few wearing orange were still smiling.

Rutschman homered twice and scored three runs in his first game against his former team, helping power the Red Sox to a 6-5 win in Thursday’s series opener. Nick Sogard put the Red Sox ahead with a two-run home run in the top of the eighth and Roman Anthony hit what wound up being the decisive solo home run in the ninth, helping avoid what would have been a three-game losing streak.

Rutschman’s home runs were Boston’s only hits through the first six innings, opening the door for the Orioles to respond.

Baltimore tied the game on a sacrifice fly by Pete Alonso in the bottom of the first, and in the fourth the Orioles took a 3-1 lead on back-to-back solo home runs by Luis Robert Jr. and Alonso, whose shot to center field was nearly robbed by Eli White but just barely got out over his outstretched glove.

Following Rutschman’s first-inning shot, the Red Sox didn’t get another hit until the catcher stepped to the plate for the third time with one out in the top of the sixth. Once again he went deep to right field, cutting the deficit to 3-2.

While he got little support from his offense and was dinged by the two home runs, Red Sox rookie Jake Bennett was otherwise highly effective, limiting the Orioles to three runs over six innings on five hits with no walks and seven strikeouts. He sent the Orioles down on 11 pitches or fewer in four of his six innings and retired the last nine Baltimore batters he faced.

For most of the night Young, the Orioles starter, was even better. He struck out seven and didn’t allow a hit to anyone other than Rutschman until Eli White’s two-out double in the seventh inning.

But with a runner in scoring position for just the second time all night, the Red Sox capitalized and spoiled Young’s brilliant night.

Isiah Kiner-Falefa tied the game with an RBI single down the right-field line, scoring White from second and chasing the Orioles’ right-hander from the game. He wound up being charged with three runs on four hits, two hits and a hit batsman over 6 2/3 innings.

Erik Miller preserved the tie in the seventh despite allowing a pair of walks, and the Red Sox got a chance to take the lead when Rutschman reached on a fielder’s choice and advanced to second when a potential double play ball bounced off Alonso’s glove.

That error helped extend the inning an extra batter, allowing Sogard to step up to the plate with two outs. He took Orioles reliever Yennier Cano deep for the first time in his last 48 appearances, and Anthony tacked on an insurance run in the top of the ninth, hitting his third home run of the season to round out the scoring.

That wound up being the difference as Aroldis Chapman allowed a two-run home run to Christian Encarnacion-Strand in the bottom of the ninth. The Red Sox avoided disaster when White and Wilyer Abreu nearly collided on a fly ball that White caught for the second out, and Chapman buckled down and struck out Dylan Beavers to end the game.

With the Yankees idle the Red Sox (76-65) moved to 4 1/2 games back of the top AL wild-card spot. They also gained a game on the Cleveland Guardians, who are clinging to the AL’s final playoff spot and now trail Boston 5 1/2 games in the standings.

Ranger Suarez (5-4, 3.64) will take the mound for Boston on Friday against Orioles righty Shane Baz (5-14, 4.01). First pitch is set for 7:05 p.m.

Rafaela day-to-day

After being subbed out in the seventh inning amid blowouts each of the past two games, Ceddanne Rafaela was out of the lineup Thursday due to right quad soreness. Red Sox interim manager Chad Tracy told reporters in Baltimore that the club plans to monitor Rafaela’s symptoms daily but that it’s too early to say how long he could be sidelined.

“He’s still sore, so still some tightness and soreness in there,” Tracy said, per MLB.com’s Ian Browne. “So obviously, he’s off, and then we’ll essentially be day to day. He’s going to get treatment like crazy, and we’ll be day to day to see how he feels and how he’s progressing.”