Lee Smith, April 4, 1988. It was the top of the 10th inning on Opening Day at Fenway Park. Smith, making his Red Sox debut, allowed a two-run homer to Alan Trammell. The Tigers beat the Red Sox, 5-3, and spoiled a Roger Clemens-pitched game.

Craig Kimbrel, April 11, 2016. It was the top of the ninth in the Fenway opener, the game tied at 6. Kimbrel, making his home debut with the Sox, gave up a three-run homer to Chris Davis and the Orioles won, 9-7.

“That stuff happens,’’ said Monday’s starter, David Price. “We have tremendous confidence in him.’’

In his third appearance with the Sox, Kimbrel took the loss. He gave it up on a day Price didn’t pitch so hot. Back in the Smith game, Clemens had pitched nine innings and left a 3-3 contest.

Neither closer felt good afterward.

After all, Kimbrel led the National League in saves four straight seasons. Smith was also a highly publicized closer, whom the Sox acquired from the Cubs for Al Nipper and Calvin Schiraldi.

Kimbrel, acquired from the Padres for prospects, had no excuses for the poor performance. The righthander had had two impressive outings entering Monday, with one save. He had been throwing in the high 90s with a drop-dead curveball.

But on this day, Kimbrel couldn’t locate.

“It was disappointing,’’ Kimbrel said. “David went out there and battled all day and our offense gave us a chance. I’m frustrated because I went out there and beat myself. I can’t be walking guys in that situation. Davis put a good swing on a pitch and hit it a long ways.’’

Davis is a low-ball hitter and Kimbrel gave him a pitch low and away. Davis cranked it to center field and it landed far up on the covered bleacher seats. The home run was measured at 433 feet.

Kimbrel is a pitcher who feeds off the crowd, and the sellout of 37,160 was into the game. Kimbrel entered a tie game in a non-save situation.

He walked No. 9 hitter Caleb Joseph with one out and then Manny Machado with two outs. Just when you thought he might escape, Davis crushed it.

It was the first time in his career he had allowed a home run with multiple runners on base.

It wasn’t so much the home run he was disappointed about, it was the walks. Kimbrel kept falling behind, and two walks will always mean trouble. Kimbrel said he can live with solo homers, but Davis’s three-run shot was tough. Imagine pitching as long as Kimbrel has without allowing a three-run homer or a grand slam?

All Kimbrel could think about after the game was getting back on the mound. He wants the chance to make up for this one. Kimbrel doesn’t blow many games, so to falter this early in the season didn’t sit well with him.

“Every time you fail, you want a chance to have success quickly again. Hopefully I can get back out there tomorrow,’’ he said.

Kimbrel could feel the crowd. But he didn’t think he was overly pumped or too aggressive. It was just one of those days where he couldn’t locate. It was him, all him.

“I’ve given up my fair share of home runs,’’ Kimbrel said. “I can’t do well by walking guys like that.’’

Over the years, Kimbrel has looked mortal only a few times. He’s been described as “filthy,’’ “nasty,’’ and “unhittable.’’ But the Orioles have a formidable lineup, same as the Blue Jays, whom Kimbrel faced Friday. He’s learning on the job that you can’t make mistakes in the AL, and you certainly can’t walk people.

The timing, like with Smith’s mistake, couldn’t have been worse. The Red Sox are expecting big things from Price and Kimbrel, and both fell short Monday. But the 1988 Red Sox recovered to make the playoffs, riding Morgan’s Magic.

Closers are going to blow games from time to time, and ace pitchers aren’t going to throw ace games in every start.

But when both stars falter in the same game, it’s a little dramatic, a little shocking.

“I didn’t expect anything like that,’’ Kimbrel said. “I just have to learn from the mistakes, stop walking people and do what I do.’’

Nick Cafardo can be reached at cafardo@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @nickcafardo.