Minnesota Twins pitcher Joe Ryan (41) throws during the first inning of an opening-day baseball game against the Baltimore Orioles, Thursday, March. 26, 2026, in Baltimore. (AP Photo/Terrance Williams)
BALTIMORE, Maryland (KNFL/KFGO/AP) — Trevor Rogers pitched seven shutout innings and Colton Cowser and Blaze Alexander had seventh-inning RBIs to give the Baltimore Orioles a 2-1 win over the Minnesota Twins on opening day Thursday.
Following a stellar 2025 season in which he went 9-3 with a 1.81 ERA, Rogers picked up where he left off in front of a sellout crowd at Camden Yards for the earliest opener in franchise history. The lefty allowed three hits, walked four and was especially effective when stuck in a jam.
Rogers (1-0) induced three double plays and limited Minnesota to 1-for-11 batting with runners in scoring position.
Twins righty Joe Ryan was every bit as good. In his second career opening day start, Ryan allowed one hit and two walks over 5 1/3 innings.
Baltimore broke up the scoreless duel in the seventh against the Minnesota bullpen. Kody Funderburk (0-1) gave up a leadoff single to Samuel Basallo and Tyler O’Neill followed with a single off Justin Topa before Cowser delivered a sacrifice fly and Alexander ripped a two-out RBI single up the middle.
The Twins closed to 2-1 in the eight when Byron Buxton tripled and scored on a fly ball by Luke Keaschall.
Closer Ryan Helsley struck out the side in the ninth, getting pinch hitter Trevor Larnach with a runner on second to end it.
Craig Albernaz got the win in his managerial debut. He was hired from Cleveland in October to help turn around a team that went 75-87 last year.
Pete Alonso went 0 for 3 with two strikeouts and a walk in his Orioles debut. The five-time All-Star had 126 RBIs with the New York Mets last year before signing a five-year contract with Baltimore as a free agent.
Up next
After taking Friday off, the Twins and Orioles resume their series on Saturday with right-hander Taj Bradley starting for Minnesota against Baltimore righty Kyle Bradish.
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