Cedric Mullins hit an RBI single with one out in the 10th inning off Clay Holmes as the Baltimore Orioles blew a four-run lead before holding on for a 7-6 victory over the host New York Yankees on Wednesday night, spoiling the season debut of right-hander Gerrit Cole.
Craig Kimbrel blew his fourth save by allowing a tying RBI single to Giancarlo Stanton but kept the score tied after striking out Gleyber Torres.
Mullins snapped the tie by hitting a bloop single to center field on a 1-1 pitch by Holmes (1-3) that scored automatic runner Anthony Santander ahead of the throw to the plate. Mullins stole third and gave the Orioles a 7-5 lead when catcher Jose Trevino’s throw sailed into left field.
After Kimbrel (5-2) kept the score tied, Dillon Tate earned his first save. Tate was aided by right fielder Santander’s diving catch on rookie Ben Rice’s sacrifice fly.
After Adley Rutschman threw out pinch runner Oswaldo Cabrera trying to steal second, Tate walked Trevino and then struck out Jahmai Jones.
Cole allowed two runs on three hits in four-plus innings in his first start since a right elbow injury. He struck out five and walked one during his 62-pitch outing.
Stanton also hit a three-run homer in the seventh off Yennier Cano to get the Yankees within 5-4.
The Yankees lost for the fourth time in six games and played without Aaron Judge. Judge was held out as a precaution after getting hit in the left hand in the third inning on Tuesday.
Ramon Urias hit a two-run homer in the fifth to snap a 1-1 tie immediately after Cole was lifted. Ryan O’Hearn hit a pair of RBI doubles and Ryan Mountcastle also had an RBI double in the seventh to put Baltimore ahead 5-1.
Baltimore rookie starter Cade Povich allowed a run on one hit and five walks in 4 2/3 innings. He retired nine straight hitters before getting pulled after a walk to Juan Soto in the fifth with Baltimore leading 4-1.
Torres lifted a tying sacrifice fly in the first off Povich.
Cole returned after missing New York’s first 75 games and allowed a leadoff double in the first to Gunnar Henderson and O’Hearn’s first double of the game as Baltimore took a 1-0 lead.
Urias homered off Ron Marinaccio to put the Orioles ahead in the fifth and O’Hearn doubled after a walk to Mountcastle. Henderson scored the fifth run on Mountcastle’s double.
–Field Level Media
