Red Sox win 4th in a row

Boston spoils Baltimore’s home opener with a 7-3 victory.

BALTIMORE—For Eduardo Rodríguez, it felt like his first big league start.

The day ended with the same type of emotion.

Rodríguez won in his return from heart inflammation that caused him to miss the 2020 season, allowing three runs over five innings Thursday to lead the Boston Red S ox over Baltimore 7-3 Thursday in the Orioles’ home opener.

“It was a special day,” Rodríguez said .“I went out therein the first inning and it was like my first time in the big leagues. I was almost too excited in the first inning. But I settled down. These guys made plays to win the game, and that’s what we’re here for.”

Rafael Devers and Kiké Hernández homered for the Red Sox, who have won four consecutive games for the first time since Aug .14-18,2019. D eve rs’ home run went 452 feet in the centerfield seats, Boston’sthird-longestsince the start of 2019.

Boston has scored 33 runs in the four wins after managing five while getting swept by the Orioles in a three-game series at FenwayPark.

Adayafter his 28th birthday, Rodríguez made his first big league appearance since Sept. 29, 2019, against the Orioles at FenwayPark.

He started last season on the injured list, and the Red S ox announced Aug .1 that Rodríguez was going to miss the entire pandemic-shortened season because of myocarditis related to

COVID-19. At the time, Red Sox chief baseball officer Chaim Bloom said he was optimistic Rodríguezwouldp itch in 2021.

“When they told me that I had myocarditis, my first question was how long is this going to take and if I was going to be able to go back and be normal ,” Rodríguez said .“They told me it wasg oing to be fine. After that, I was able to take care of it andget back here today.”

Rodríguez started this season on the injured list after experiencing a dead arm during spring training.

Rodríguez (1-0) gave up four hits, including two-run homers by Ryan Mountcastle in the first and Pedro Severi no int he fourth—the first home runs allowed by Boston this season.

Rodríguez struck out seven and walked none, throwing at up to 94.7 mph.

Manciniwelcomed: Trey Mancini was given a standing ovation when introduced and again before his first home at-bat following treatment for colon cancer.

The 29-year-old was diagnosed during spring training last year and missed the pandemic-shortened 2020 season. Boston players applauded during the ovation and Mancini tipped his batting helmet in appreciation.

He grounded into a force out, beating there lay throw to avoid a double play.

“It was amazing. I think it’s well-documented at this point what I went though and what it took to get back to playing,” Mancini said.