The most anxiety that Orioles second baseman Blaze Alexander felt yesterday might have come before pregame introductions.

“I didn’t trip on the carpet,” he said. “I was honestly more nervous for that than playing the actual game.”

Alexander kept his footing, produced a big run-scoring single in the seventh inning and joined in the celebration of manager Craig Albernaz’s first career win.

“Just kind of waiting around out there, it was as advertised and then some,” he said of the Opening Day festivities. “It kind of blew my expectations away.

“I’m a Baltimore Oriole.”

The Orioles are glad that he is, and they certainly feel the same about left-hander Trevor Rogers, who tossed seven shutout innings in the 2-1 victory over Minnesota.

“Trevor’s one of the best pitchers in baseball and he showed it today,” Alexander said. “Just controlling the game.”

“I thought he looked great,” said Coby Mayo. “Didn’t even know he had four walks. … Changeup was really working today, getting ground balls. That was huge, especially for an all-righty lineup pretty much and having a lefty pitcher.”

*Albernaz talked to the media after getting doused mostly with beer and soap. Hold the condiments.

“I mean, it’s a first,” said Pete Alonso. “You have to celebrate firsts, you have to celebrate big moments, and for him to get his first win with this group, it’s really special.”

*Ryan Helsley also made his Orioles debut as the replacement closer with Félix Bautisa on the injured list and stranded a runner on second base. He struck out three batters, getting the final out on a slider.

His fastball touched triple digits six times – 101.9 mph, 100.4, 100, 100.9, 100.8 and 100.6.

“One-run ballgames, it’s awesome,” Alexander said. “Running out there in the ninth, Helsley, ‘Hells Bells’ playing, I was fired up. It was awesome.”

“That’s who he is,” Alonso said. “That’s prime Hels right there. That was phenomenal. He threw the rock well, conviction, and obviously when he throws a heater it lights up the radar gun.”

Talking about the adrenaline, Helsley told reporters, “You definitely feel it.”

“Sometimes you have to calm yourself down a little bit because the adrenaline’s so high. It was a great atmosphere today.”

This wasn’t the exhibition version of Helsley.

“Throwing in spring training venues is a little different atmosphere, a little different juice here,” Albernaz said. “I think he popped a 101.9 with like 20 inches of vert. It’s a pretty good fastball. That was the best we’ve seen Hels. He threw some really good splits, too, so he’s right where he needs to be.”

*Taylor Ward experienced his first Opening Day in Baltimore after returning to the team following the birth of his third child, a boy weighing 10 pounds and seven ounces.

“The timing of my son was perfect,” he said.

A future athlete?

“Absolutely, I think so,” Ward said.

“He’s awesome and he’s doing great. Got him back home now.”

Ward has his emotions under control. He was ready for the opener yesterday, serving as leadoff hitter. No issues with flipping that switch and going from father to competitor. He’s a pro in both roles.

“I think at this point in my career, and this is our third kid, it’s just kind of, it’s not a big deal,” he said. “It’s really just the health that’s the most important thing, and baseball’s baseball. Just thankful for good health and ready to get going.”

*Coby Mayo made the expected start at third base yesterday and should stay there for Saturday’s game against Twins right-hander Taj Bradley.

Mayo shifted to first base last summer but moved back across the diamond and became the starter with Jordan Westburg injured. He had a web gem yesterday in the third inning, gloving a 107 mph grounder to his left, spinning and throwing to second base to start a 5-4-3 double play and bail out Rogers. And he handled another grounder with two on and none out in the fourth for a double play.

“You know I’m really proud of Coby,” said third base coach Buck Britton, who assists infield coach Miguel Cairo. “He’s kind of taken it and run with it. I think he’s gaining confidence every day, which is massive for Coby.

“Miggy’s done a really nice job just getting him comfortable with fielding the routine ball. You know, he’s a big, long guy and it takes a little extra work to get to the ground, so he’s playing lower, he’s playing wider. He’s gaining a lot of confidence, and it started to show up at the end of spring training, where the throwing is more consistent. I think Miggy’s got his arm slot a little lower. But I think the confidence has been a major, major piece with Coby, and I’m really, really, really pleased, and I know Miggy is, too, with where he’s at.”

Alonso knows where Mayo should be for each game.

“That was an absolute clinic today,” he said. “He can stay right there. That would be fantastic.”

“I have confidence in myself obviously making plays and felt good,” Mayo said. “It was nice to make the first few. The first one’s always the toughest, especially that one.

“I never thought about mechanics. I think it’s probably more just getting the repetition out there every day. It’s a tough position. Balls coming at you harder, got some tough slow rollers or whatnot. Just being confident in yourself and trying to go out there as prepared as possible.”

Mayo said he had chills during the pregame ceremonies and running down the orange carpet.

“Chills right now thinking about it,” he said. “A moment I definitely will remember forever. Got a little emotional, too. National anthem.

“Probably besides my debut, one of the coolest moments in my big league career.”

*Kyle Bradish is the Game 2 starter on Saturday, his seventh appearance since returning from ligament-reconstructive surgery on his right elbow. He impressed in his six outings in 2025, allowing nine runs and striking out 47 batters in 32 innings, and tossed 5 1/3 scoreless innings against the Nationals in Sunday’s exhibition game at Camden Yards.

Bradish has moved past his surgery but doesn’t pretend that it’s completely forgotten.

“I think it’s always in every pitcher’s mind, but we got through it, came back last year, and I had a full offseason to kind of work on the things that I needed to work on,” he said. “So now it’s just kind of getting further and further away from that.”

The results after his return fed more confidence into a pitcher who doesn’t lack it.

“Knowing that I’m pretty close to the guy I was before T.J.,” he said.

Bradish steps into a deeper rotation than in the past. He was bumped to second behind Trevor Rogers. His close friend, Dean Kremer, was bumped to Triple-A, but they could be reunited at some point next month.

“I’m just really excited,” Bradish said. “Since I arrived in Florida, I knew we were going to have a good group and this is the 26 we’re rocking with since Opening Day. But it’s gonna take probably 15, 20 more guys to get through the whole season. But right now I’m really excited.”