Trevor Rogers did more sprinting than jogging from the dugout to the mound to warm up for his Opening Day start. The public address system blared – and I mean blared – ZZ Top’s “Sharp Dressed Man.” Rogers missed with a fastball, got a flyball out with another, and the 2026 season officially was underway.

Rogers wasn’t at his sharpest, with seven baserunners between the second and fourth innings and nine overall. But last season’s Most Valuable Oriole will carry a 0.00 ERA into his next outing after delivering seven scoreless frames, with his defense turning three double plays and his offense deciding to reward him.

The Orioles manufactured two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on three singles and Colton Cowser’s sacrifice fly to break a scoreless tie in a 2-1 victory over the Twins before an announced sellout crowd of 42,134 at Camden Yards.

Playing on the earliest date in team history, the Orioles presented manager Craig Albernaz with his first major league win and improved to 48-25 in openers. He got some practice with handshake lines in spring training, but this one counted.

Samuel Basallo led off the seventh with a single up the middle against left-hander Kody Funderburk. Right-hander Justin Topa came in to face Tyler O’Neill, who also singled to center field to put runners on the corners, and Cowser flied to left.

Blaze Alexander singled to center with two outs for a 2-0 lead in his Orioles debut.  

Tyler Wells worked the eighth and allowed a run on Byron Buxton’s one-out triple and Luke Keaschall’s sacrifice fly. New closer Ryan Helsley struck out three, stranded a runner at second base and is 1-for-1 in save opportunities. His fastball sat in triple digits.

The Orioles introduced their new scoreboard first before directing their attention to the team. Staff, coaches and reserves had their moments, and the ballpark erupted for Albernaz and shortstop Gunnar Henderson.

The loudest ovation was reserved for first baseman Pete Alonso, who walked through the bullpen gates and blew kisses before breaking into his trot. He received a standing ovation prior to his first at-bat, stepping out of the box to raise his helmet in appreciation. Players along the railing also applauded. A really cool moment.

Alonso struck out on three pitches, and on five in his next at-bat.

Not every story can be like a fairytale.

O’Neill had his Opening Day home run streak snapped at six in a row. He drew a nine-pitch walk in the second inning, fouling off five. The single in the seventh fueled the rally.

The first Orioles hit came from Adley Rutschman, a two-out single in the fourth inning. It was the only hit off Twins starter Joe Ryan over 5 1/3.

The first mound visit occurred with two outs in the second inning, after Rogers hit Royce Lewis with a changeup to load the bases. Pitching coach Drew French came out of the dugout, and Rogers struck out Brooks Lee on three pitches – cutter, changeup, curveball.

Austin Martin led off the third with a single and stolen base, and Keaschall reached on an infield hit with one out. Henderson made a diving backhand stop but Keaschall beat the throw.

Ryan Jeffers followed with a 107 mph grounder that third baseman Coby Mayo snared to his left while spinning and firing to second base to start a double play. Rogers pumped his fist.

Rogers walked the first two batters in the fourth and Mayo started another 5-4-3 double play, this one in much easier fashion. It’s important to make the routine plays, too.

Mayo drew a two-out walk in the fifth inning, stole second base and hustled to third on Jeffers’ throwing error, but Alexander flied out. Alonso walked with two outs in the sixth and Rutschman grounded into a force.

Alonso flied to the center field warning track in the eighth to send a jolt through the crowd. Rutschman followed with a double to leave his average at .500 through one game.

The first Orioles error was committed by O’Neill in the sixth when he dropped Keaschall’s fly ball, but Alexander was in pursuit and veered late, perhaps contributing to the misplay. Rogers retired the next three batters, striking out Josh Bell to leave his pitch count at 79.

A leadoff walk by Caratini in the seventh was followed by a Lewis grounder that Henderson fielded for another double play. Rogers finished at 88 pitches, with three hits, four walks and five strikeouts.

This story will be updated.