BALTIMORE — What happened? The marathon is just beginning for the Orioles, and the sample sizes are small, but the Boston Red Sox look for real. And they’ve made some offseason moves, and in-season extensions, that demonstrate they’re serious about being a contender again. On Thursday afternoon, they pounded three two-run homers and defeated the Orioles, 8-4, before an announced crowd of 16,656 at Camden Yards.

Two of the home runs came off Oriole starter Charlie Morton, who struck out 10 but gave up five runs in five innings after giving up four in 3 1/3 innings in his first start against Toronto. It came on the heels of a dominant performance by Red Sox ace Garrett Crochet, who shut out the Orioles for eight innings in Wednesday night’s 3-0 loss. The Orioles lost two of three to Boston and fell to 3-4 after splitting four games with the Blue Jays.

Morton, a 41-year-old right-hander who’s in his 18th season, Tomoyuki Sugano, a 35-year-old right-hander who’s in his first season in the major leagues after a stellar career in Japan, and Kyle Gibson, a 37-year-old right-hander who’s just beginning his spring training, are the replacements for last year’s ace, Corbiin Burnes, who signed with Arizona. The quantity doesn’t seem to add up to the quality the 25-year-old Crochet brings.

The Red Sox also signed All-Star third baseman Alex Bregman, who was outstanding against the Orioles, and gave extensions to Crochet and promising second baseman Kristian Campbell, who also stood out against the Orioles. Boston is determined to get back to where the Orioles have been the past two seasons — in the playoffs.

The Orioles’ offense has been uneven through their first seven games. They hit six home runs on Opening Day, then hit only one in three games at home against Boston. In their four losses, they’ve scored 0, 1, 2 and 4 runs. In their three wins, they’ve scored 8, 9 and 8 runs. Again, it’s early, but there hasn’t been consistency.

The best news is they get All-Star shortstop Gunnar Henderson back on Friday when they start a three-game series against the Royals, who ousted them from the playoffs last year. Henderson has been on the injured list since straining a right intercostal muscle on February 27th.

There is more good news. The bullpen has been strong overall, and that will make a difference over the long haul provided the Orioles can get length from their starters. Infielder Jordan Westburg is hitting the ball hard, as is Ramón Urías, who might have to sit now that Henderson is back. Jackson Holliday is getting hits to the opposite field and looks strong, new outfielder Tyler O’Neill is strong and can be a difference-maker. Cedric Mullins is off to an excellent start, and Adley Rutschman is playing like an All-Star again after last season’s second-half slump.

There’s a lot to like, but the competition in the always competitive American League East has gotten stronger, and having an ace in  your deck can make a big difference.

How did Morton pitch?Morton threw 98 pitches in five innings. He had good stuff but not good control. He gave up two-run homers to Bregman, on a fastball, and Campbell, on a curve. Each came after a walk.

“Just thought he made a few bad pitches,” manager Brandon Hyde told reporters after the game. “Couple two-run homers, but he punched out 10. Thought he competed well. Got through five innings for us, just a couple two-run homers there hurt early in the game.”

Morton was expansive and thoughtful about his second start.

“I think I had good stuff. I think I made a lot of really good pitches,” he said. “I just made a couple costly mistakes. Breggy ambushed a heater that was just middle-middle, 0-0. I got into a deep count with Campbell. What I saw was, I saw a flinch on the first breaking ball I threw to him. I saw a flinch on the second breaking ball I threw to him. On 3-2, you don’t necessarily think that hitters will, especially in that situation from what I saw, be able to stay on that breaking ball. And it was a decent pitch. For a 3-2 curveball, it’s a decent pitch.

“I can second-guess it. I can look back and go, ‘Man, maybe if I got the ball on the ground, sinker or whatever.’ But I think the way I evaluate that outing is there was some early inefficiency that ran my pitch count up. And they made me pay for those walks with the long ball, two good swings.”

How did the leadoff hitter do? There was thought that Henderson would be activated for Thursday’s game and resume his spot as the leadoff hitter. When he wasn’t, Hyde turned to a former leadoff hitter, centerfielder Cedric Mullins. Leading off for the first time since September 29th, 2023, Mullins hit a home run down the right-field. It was his 17th career leadoff homer.

Do opposites attract? Heston Kjerstad drove a double to left-center in the fourth and scored on a long single to right by Urias. Holliday slammed a double to left-center in the ninth and scored on a Dylan Carlson sacrifice fly for the Orioles’ fourth and final run. Westburg also singled sharply up the middle to score Mullins in the third. Hyde preaches letting the ball travel and driving it to the opposite field. The Orioles did it with success on Monday in their 8-5 home-opening win and again on Thursday.

Going out for a drive? Speaking of driving the ball, first baseman Ryan Mountcastle, who was known more for his bat than his glove when he joined the Orioles, seems to have changed roles. He has become an outstanding first baseman, but his power stroke has been missing, perhaps affected by the deeper left-field wall that has been moved in this season and was taken advantage of by the Red Sox. Again, it’s early, and Mountcastle might start driving the ball again, but I think the Orioles would be wise to have Coby Mayo become the everyday first baseman for the Norfolk Tides.

What’s the number? 26. That’s how many feet the wall has been moved in in left-center, aiding Campbell’s two-run homer in the second. Ben McDonald is interested in the net change for the Orioles this season after changing the dimensions.

What’s next? Dean Kremer will face the Royals’ Seth Lugo on Friday night at 7:40.