Lucas Giolito allowed four hits in eight innings, Trevor Story and David Hamilton both homered, and the Boston Red Sox blanked the Baltimore Orioles 5-0.

At just 21 years and 104 days old, Anthony became the youngest player in Red Sox history to smack a leadoff homer for Boston. He was just a shade younger than Bobby Doerr, who hit a leadoff homer for Boston in 1939 at the age of 21 years and 116 days old.

Kyle Harrison is a candidate (and possibly the leading candidate) on short rest Saturday after the Red Sox held him to just three innings and 38 pitches Tuesday against Durham. The 24-year-old lefty, who Boston acquired from the Giants in the Rafael Devers trade, already is on the 40-man roster.

On a night the Red Sox pieced it together from a pitching standpoint – going with a bullpen game for the second time this season – some bolts of offense were needed to make the strategy work. One came from Roman Anthony early,

The Sox will then play three in Houston before returning to Fenway Park for their home opener, an April 3 matchup against the Padres that kicks off a three-game series.

Red Sox pitcher Richard Fitts, who left Monday’s game with biceps tightness, underwent a series of strength tests and has been diagnosed with right arm neuritis.

The Boston Red Sox made a decisive statement about their playoff hopes with a successful four-game set against the New York Yankees and now they hold an edge in the wild card standings entering Tuesday.