BALTIMORE – Ramón Urías hit a tiebreaking double and then scored on a wild pitch.
That might’ve all been for naught if he hadn’t made a sparkling defensive play an inning later.
Urías put Baltimore ahead with his bat in the bottom of the seventh, then started a crucial double play at third base in the eighth to help the Orioles win their home opener Friday, 7-6 over the New York Yankees.
“It’s a great win, especially being in front of that crowd,” Urías said. “I don’t remember it being like that last year.”
Ron Marinaccio (0-1) allowed a leadoff walk in the seventh to Ryan Mountcastle, who stole second when Gunnar Henderson took a called third strike. Jimmy Cordero then took the mound and threw a wild pitch before allowing Urías’ double to left-center that made it 6-5.
Urías later scored on Cordero’s second wild pitch of the inning.
Cionel Pérez (1-0) retired the side on five pitches in the seventh, but he allowed a double and two singles to start the eighth. With Baltimore’s lead cut to one and men on first and second, Bryan Baker relieved Pérez. After initially showing bunt, Jose Trevino swung away on a 2-0 pitch and hit a hard grounder that Urías fielded for a 5-3 double play.
“That was a huge moment in the game right there,” Orioles outfielder Austin Hays said. “Especially when he was trying to bunt the first two pitches and he got into a hitter’s count and put a good swing on the ball. But Ramon just made a great play.”
Baker fanned Isiah Kiner-Falefa with a man on third for the third out.
Félix Bautista pitched a hitless ninth for his third save, although a walk and a stolen base by Aaron Judge, followed by a wild pitch, put the tying run at third with two out. Anthony Rizzo hit a routine fly ball to left to end it.
The Orioles’ home opener was postponed from Thursday to Friday because of weather concerns.
Baltimore scored two runs apiece in the second and third innings, only for Franchy Cordero – who was released by the Orioles last month – to hit a three-run homer for New York in the fourth.
“Very cool,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said. “He’s done a great job. He’s gotten a couple big hits for us – obviously a big homer today.”
The Yankees went ahead in the sixth on a two-run double by Oswaldo Cabrera, but Adley Rutchman tied it at 5 in the bottom of that inning with a two-out RBI single.
HIGH HOPES
The Orioles improved by 31 games last season, going 83-79. That was almost enough for a wild card, although they still finished 16 games behind the AL East-winning Yankees.
“I thought we competed really well today,” Boone said. “They’re a formidable opponent. We know that.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Yankees: Boone said 3B Josh Donaldson (hamstring) would likely go on the injured list, but that wasn’t certain yet. He did not have an MRI. … RHP Luis Severino (right lat strain) threw out to 120 feet on Thursday, and the hope was for him to throw a bullpen Sunday. … Boone said LHP Carlos Rodón (left forearm strain) would throw live batting practice Monday.
Orioles: RHP Mychal Givens (knee inflammation) is expected to throw a side session Saturday. … C James McCann (left oblique strain) was set to begin a rehab assignment Friday night with Class A Aberdeen.
UP NEXT
Baltimore’s Cole Irvin (0-1) takes on New York’s Nestor Cortes (1-0) on Saturday night in a matchup of lefties.
