No matter what happens, the 67th season of Orioles baseball is guaranteed to be unlike any other. The condensed 60-game schedule and safety measures MLB is taking due to the coronavirus pandemic ensures that.

But that doesn't mean the year won't come with its share of growing pains for the rebuilding Orioles, for whom success will likely be measured in the growth shown and steps forward taken by several youngsters rather than by wins and losses. The Orioles went into their 13-2 Opening Day loss to the Red Sox at Fenway Park knowing that, and it remains true as they embark now on this sprint of a 2020 season in earnest.

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Part of the challenge for second-year manager Brandon Hyde will be his club's ability to regroup after nights like Friday, when the excitement and anticipation built by three weeks of Summer Camp collided with one of the most lopsided Opening Day losses in franchise history.

"I'd like to flush this one," Hyde said. "Our guys are going to stay positive, turn the page and come out hopefully for a better result tomorrow."

Making his first career Opening Day start in place of the injured John Means, veteran lefty Tommy Milone allowed four runs in three innings, striking out five and walking three. The wheels came off after he departed, the Red Sox tagging Cody Carroll and Travis Lakins for six runs in the fourth to take a commanding 10-0 lead. The Red Sox totaled 17 hits, including a franchise Opening Day record eight doubles.

"It's kind of embarrassing to only go three innings," said Milone. "I know it's early, but I put a lot of stress on the bullpen early on in the season. You don't want to see that."

The Red Sox got big nights from J.D. Martinez (3 hits, 3 RBIs), Kevin Pillar (3 hits, 3 RBIs), José Peraza (4 hits, 3 RBIs) and others to support winner Nathan Eovaldi, who allowed little more than Renato Núñez's RBI double over six innings.

"We faced a really good starter tonight and he shut us down a little bit," Hyde said. "That was the best I've seen Nathan in a while. He was throwing 100 [mph] in the first few innings with the cutter. I thought he had really good stuff. Last year, he was having a tough time with command. Tonight he did not. Tonight he was locked in and attacking us."

The opposite was Carroll, who walked three of his four hitters, including Andrew Benintendi with the bases loaded, in his first MLB appearance since 2018. Acquired in the '18 trade for Zack Britton, the hard-throwing right-hander missed all of '19 due to back trouble. He earned a roster spot with a strong Spring Training and Summer Camp and will get another shot as the Orioles look to improve their relief corps from a year ago.

"I believe in Cody Carroll's stuff. I am sure there were some nerves as well," Hyde said. "I thought it was a good spot for him with the bottom of their order, have him start the inning in a low-pressure situation. It just didn't work out, but I do believe in his arm."

As for the milestones that inherently come baked into Opening Day: Hanser Alberto notched the Orioles' first hit of the season, a single in the second; Rio Ruiz cranked their first homer, a solo shot off Austin Brice in the seventh; Milone recorded the first strikeout, whiffing Rafael Devers in the first. The veteran southpaw is also credited with the first defeat.

The 13 runs are the most the Orioles have allowed on Opening Day; their most lopsided Opening Day defeat was their 12-0 loss to the Brewers in 1988.