By Tiffany Williams –
The Baltimore Orioles kicked off their 72nd season on a vibrant Friday afternoon against the Toronto Blue Jays at the bustling Rogers Centre, securing an Opening Day 12-2 victory and starting the season with a 1-0 record. With this win, the Orioles have now achieved an impressive 47-25 record on Opening Day since relocating to Baltimore before the 1954 season.
Friday was the first game the Orioles have kicked off a season outside the United States, adding a unique twist to their storied history.
Friday also marked the second time these two teams have faced off on Opening Day, the previous encounter being on April 3, 2017, at Oriole Park at Camden Yards. In that thrilling contest, the Orioles triumphed in 11 innings, thanks to Mark Trumbo’s stunning two-out solo home run off Jason Grilli, sealing a dramatic 3-2 victory.
In a powerful display of offensive talent, the Orioles launched a remarkable six home runs during the game—the highest total in franchise history for an Opening Day and tied for the second-most in Major League Baseball history on Opening Day, matching feats accomplished by the Chicago White Sox on March 28, 2019, and the New York Mets on April 4, 1988.
Zach Eflin was called upon as the starting pitcher for his second consecutive Opening Day, making his debut with the Orioles after previously leading the charge for the Tampa Bay Rays against the Blue Jays on March 28, 2024, at Tropicana Field. In a masterful performance, Eflin pitched six innings, allowing only two runs on a pair of hits and a walk, while striking out several batters. Remarkably, he became only the second pitcher since 1939 to start back-to-back Opening Days against the same opponent while donning different team colors, joining the ranks of Madison Bumgarner, who achieved this feat in 2019 and 2020.
Tyler O’Neill electrified the crowd with his first home run of the season, a spectacular three-run blast to right field in the 3rd inning. He also added a single in the 5th, concluding the day with an impressive 3-for-3 performance and two walks—marking his first multi-hit game of the season. This game extended his remarkable streak of Opening Day home runs to six, the longest in MLB history, tying him for the eighth most in the Modern Era with a total of six homers on team Opening Days.
Cedric Mullins showcased his power as he crushed his first homer of the season in the 4th inning—a booming solo shot—and followed it up with another prominent home run in the 7th. He also contributed to the scoreboard with an RBI single in the 2nd inning, finishing the game with a robust 3-for-5 performance, signifying his first multi-hit game and a three-hit game of the season.
Adley Rutschman kicked off the scoring with a majestic solo home run to right center field in the 1st inning, later launching a two-run shot in the 7th. This remarkable outing marked his third career multi-home run game, all of which have come against the Blue Jays. He added a single in the 3rd inning, wrapping up the day with a 3-for-5 stat line, showcasing his prowess at the plate in his first multi-hit and three-hit game of the season.
Jordan Westburg also made his mark, hitting his first home run of the season with a thrilling solo shot to center field in the 8th inning. He started the game strong with a single in the 1st, finishing the contest with a solid 2-for-4 performance and a walk, marking his inaugural multi-hit game of the season.
At the helm, Orioles Manager Brandon Hyde is entering his seventh season in Baltimore, having made a significant impact since his arrival. The 2023 AL Manager of the Year celebrated his 400th career victory on September 19 last season, and his current total of 406 wins with the Orioles ranks him fifth in the team’s rich history, following legends such as Earl Weaver (1,480 wins), Buck Showalter (669), Paul Richards (517), and Hank Bauer (407).
Sports Insider Daily 