BOSTON — The Boston Red Sox were home, where they win a lot.

They had their ace on the mound, backed by the most productive offense in the major leagues.

But Boston also had returned to the troublesome American League East and, worse, playing that team from Baltimore.

Darn Orioles.

Forget that David Price pitched one of his most effective games. He still gave up two home runs, which made all the difference in a 3-2 loss.

“I’m better than three runs,” Price said. “If you told me before the game I could have eight innings and three runs, I’m not going to take that.”

Give Price credit for not going the moral victory route even though he was very good. In his words, “that was the best stuff I’ve showcased so far … (but) I’ve got to get better.”

Forget that the Red Sox lead the majors in runs. They did little against Chris Tillman.

And please don’t mention statistics like “run differential” when it’s wins and losses Boston needs to worry about.

Boston leads the American League with a plus-84 run differential.

Baltimore, with a plus-28 run differential, leads the American League East with a 37-26 record. Boston is 36-27.

Yes, Boston can beat up on teams, especially the bad ones, but the Red Sox are 14-16 in the division, including 3-5 against the Orioles, a team that has bested Boston in the season series every year since 2011 (and don’t forget what team knocked the Red Sox out of the playoffs that year).

Lately the Orioles have not only been spoilers, but they are contenders. And they keep beating Boston.

Why is that?

“It’s just the way it’s worked out,” said Orioles third baseman (and Portland native) Ryan Flaherty. “Their team and ours are pretty similar.”

Maybe that is just Flaherty being his polite self. You didn’t expect trash talk, did you? These Orioles seem to enjoy taking it to the Sox.

Yes, it is true you cannot make too much of one game, and Price did allow only five hits, while striking out 11 and walking none over eight innings.

“Quality-pitched ballgame on both sides,” Red Sox Manager John Farrell said. “A mislocated pitch ends up being the difference.”

The pitch came in the eighth inning after Boston closed to 2-1 in the bottom of the seventh on Jackie Bradley Jr.’s home run.

Price had been ahead of hitters all game, often going 0-2 on them. Jonathan Schoop led off the eighth. Price began with a slider.

“I didn’t put it where I wanted to,” Price said of the pitch Schoop delivered over the Green Monster for a 3-1 lead.

“That one’s tough. It was an inning when I could put down a shutdown inning. I wasn’t able to do that.

“I want to get better. For the most part I did that. One pitch in this game can lose it for you.”

Tough loss. One game. Ninety-nine to go this season.

“My confidence isn’t shaken,” Price said. “I still have a lot of confidence in our offense. We’re going to score a lot of runs and we’re going to win a lot of games.”

But will they win enough, especially if they don’t take advantage when their ace is on the mound?

The problem this season has been pitching, so wasting a solid Price start is especially frustrating. Boston has overcome badly pitched games by outslugging teams. But in a pennant race – and the AL East is a tight one, with Toronto two games behind the Red Sox – pitching is crucial.

“It will be,” Farrell said, “in what is shaping up as a very offensive division … The ability to control the count and minimize multiple-run damage inside an inning will be key.”

So look at the glass being half-filled and see Price being the ace Boston is paying for.

But that glass is also half empty. The offense slowed at a time when the Red Sox are playing their nemesis.

Red Sox fans may hate the Yankees but lately it’s the Orioles doing the damage.

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