Orioles’ new batting order doesn’t matter in demoralizing 12-3 loss to Red Sox

BOSTON—Orioles manager Brandon Hyde decided to drop the slumping Adley Rutschman from second to fifth in the batting order and elevate Cedric Mullins to the second spot.

Those changes didn’t matter much as Cade Povich allowed four runs in 4 2/3 innings and Burch Smith gave up four more in the sixth as the Orioles lost to the Boston Red Sox, 12-3, before 30,600 at Fenway Park on Monday night.

The Orioles trail the New York Yankees by 1 1/2 games in the American League East after New York’s 10-4 win over Kansas City.

Rob Refsnyder drove in five runs on a two-run home run in the third, a two-run single in the sixth and another home run in the eighth against Cole Irvin.

Tyler O’Neill hit his 27^th home run following Refsnyder’s two-run homer, and his 28^th following his eighth-inning home run.

Povich (2-8) gave up a run in the first that scored on O’Neill’s infield out.

The Orioles (82-63) scored in the first on a leadoff double by Gunnar Henderson and an RBI single by Anthony Santander.

Brayan Bello (13-7) gave up a run in the fourth when he walked three and hit Mullins. Santander’s bases-loaded walk scored Colton Cowser.

He allowed two runs on three hits, struck out five and walked five.

Santander hit his 40^th home run in the seventh. It’s the ninth 40-home run season by an Oriole.

Smith allowed a two-run single by Cedanne Rafaela in the sixth and was charged with two more runs when Gregory Soto allowed Refsnyder’s two-run single.

Rafaela added a two-run double against Craig Kimbrel in the seventh.

Povich allowed four runs on five hits in 4 2/3 innings, walking two and striking out five.