BALTIMORE—Cade Povich was called up from Triple-A Norfolk to make Saturday night’s start, and after a rain delay of 76 minutes, he delivered an excellent performance. Unfortunately for Povich, the Orioles’ bullpen and offense didn’t support him in a 5-1 loss to the Boston Red Sox before 38,921 at Camden Yards.
The Orioles (72-52) remain one game behind the New York Yankees in the American League East. The Yankees lost to Detroit, 4-0.
After getting 10 runs and 17 hits in a 12-10 loss on Friday night, the Orioles were held to just five hits.
Povich (1-7) allowed two hits in the first five innings, a second-inning single with two outs to Romy Gonzalez and a two-out single in the fifth to Triston Casas.
Ceddanne Rafaela singled to start the sixth. Jarren Duran’s sinking liner was caught by Ryan O’Hearn as he skidded across the turf in right field. Rob Refsnyder singled, and Rafaela scored on Tyler O’Neill’s single.
Red Sox starter Brayan Bello (11-5) walked three — Ryan O’Hearn and Cedric Mullins in the second and James McCann in the third — and didn’t allow a hit for 5 2/3 innings. Gunnar Henderson homered to right, his 32nd, and the Orioles tied it, 1-1.
In six innings, Bello gave up the run on two hits, striking out six and walking three.
Povich was removed after Casas’ single with one out in the seventh. Yennier Cano allowed a double to Masataka Yoshida, and a two-out single to Duran that scored two runs.
Povich allowed two runs on six hits in a career-high 6 1/3 innings, striking out six. He didn’t walk a batter.
Brennan Bernardino, who was the opener on Friday night, replaced Bello to begin the seventh. He allowed singles to Jackson Holliday and Ramón Urías while striking out Mullins.
Lucas Sims replaced Bernardino and Adley Rutschman, who missed Friday night’s game with lower back discomfort, flied to right as a pinch-hitter for McCann. Colton Cowser walked, and with the bases loaded, Anthony Santander tapped out to second.
Rafael Devers hit a two-run home run, his 27th, in the eighth against Burch Smith for a 5-1 lead.
Duran made a terrific catch on pinch-hitter Eloy Jiménez with one out in the ninth, taking a home run away from him, and getting a salute for Jiménez.
In a non-save situation, Kenley Jansen retired the final three batters.