As Chris Davis jogged around the bases, having hit what could well prove to be the longest home run at Fenway Park this season, Red Sox president of baseball operations Dave Dombrowski learned back in his chair and stared at the ceiling of his private box behind home plate.
From afar, it was unclear whether he said anything. But then what could be said?
The two players Dombrowski decided the Red Sox needed the most last winter, David Price and Craig Kimbrel, turned a joyous home opener into a demoralizing 9-7 loss against the Baltimore Orioles on Monday.
Price was unable to hold a 3-0 lead, allowing five runs in the third inning and lasting only five innings. The Sox twice came back to tie the game, only to see Kimbrel give up a 433-foot, three-run shot to Davis in the ninth inning.
Never before in his seven-year career had Kimbrel allowed a three-run homer.
“That was like two games in one game. It felt like a long game; maybe it was just me,’’ said Davis, who had never before faced Kimbrel.
It wasn’t just you, Chris. Over three hours and 26 minutes, there were 20 hits, eight walks, and 329 pitches thrown by 10 pitchers.
That Price would be involved in such a game wasn’t part of the offseason strategy.
“I had one bad inning. Sometimes that’s all it takes in this game,’’ he said.
Price took a 3-0 lead into the third inning and struck out leadoff hitter Nolan Reimold. To that point he had retired seven of eight batters.
A crowd already treated to the sight of David Ortiz throwing out a ceremonial first pitch with fellow Boston legends Bill Russell, Bobby Orr, and Ty Law was happily buzzing.
The next five Baltimore batters reached and scored as the game took a sudden and unexpected wrong turn for the Sox.
Caleb Joseph singled, Joey Rickard walked, and Price threw a fastball that brushed the uniform pants of Manny Machado and sent him to first base.
Price had Davis 0 and 2, but couldn’t put him away. Davis connected on a changeup and dropped a soft single into center field, driving in two runs. Price then left a 94-m.p.h. fastball over the plate and Mark Trumbo drove it over the Red Sox bullpen for his first home run of the season.
“That’s on me, it’s not anybody else,’’ Price said. “Our offense gave me three runs in the bottom of the first and then I give up a five-spot in the third.’’
It was the worst inning for Price in nearly a year. He allowed six runs in the first inning against the Yankees last April 22 while with the Detroit Tigers.
The only time in his career Price allowed five or more runs in a game at Fenway Park was in Game 2 of the 2013 ALCS, when he gave up seven.
Price did not allow another run but was done after five innings and 103 pitches.
The Sox tied the game in the fourth inning. Brock Holt, back after missing Sunday’s game with a bruised right foot, drew a leadoff walk and took third when Blake Swihart singled to center field.
Jackie Bradley Jr. followed with an RBI double down the line in left, the ball hopping into the stands. Swihart scored when Betts grounded out.
J.J. Hardy and Jonathan Schoop had back-to-back doubles off Matt Barnes in the sixth inning as Baltimore took the lead back. Holt saved a run with a diving catch in left field, then doubled Schoop off second.
The Sox quickly tied it back up. Holt walked with one out in the bottom of the inning and again went first to third on a single by Swihart, belly-flopping into the base.
Bradley grounded into a force at second and beat the throw to first to drive in his second run.
Sox manager John Farrell used his best relievers, getting scoreless innings from Junichi Tazawa and Koji Uehara before turning to Kimbrel in the ninth inning. The closer walked No. 9 hitter Joseph on five pitches. With two outs, he walked Machado on four in a row.
“In those at-bats I really wasn’t in the game. I was kind of battling trying to back in the count,’’ Kimbrel said.
Kimbrel got a called strike on a breaking ball to Davis. His next pitch was a fastball that was supposed to be low and away but stayed over the plate. Davis, a good low-ball hitter, crushed it.
“He got the barrel of the bat to it. He did what he does,’’ Kimbrel said. “I missed. He hit it over the fence. It was a bad pitch.’’
The Sox, who had 11 hits, kept coming in the bottom of the ninth against Baltimore’s closer, Zach Britton.
Mookie Betts (3 for 5) led off with a homer to left field. When Dustin Pedroia singled and Xander Bogaerts drew a walk, up stepped Ortiz as the winning run. He already had two hits.
But the drama died out quickly. Ortiz grounded into a double play and Hanley Ramirez struck out.
“Overall, this team continues to fight back. There’s not any at-bats given away. I like the way we continue to fight inside the game,’’ Farrell said.
Ortiz also walked away believing something positive could emerge, saying he has known for weeks the Sox would have a dynamic offense.
But that won’t matter if the pitching doesn’t improve.
“I can’t speak for anybody else,’’ Price said. “But I know I have to do better than that.’’
Peter Abraham can be reached at pabraham@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @PeteAbe.
