The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 2-1 on Opening Day at Camden Yards, ending outfielder Tyler O'Neill's record streak of six consecutive Opening Day home runs. Trevor Rogers pitched seven scoreless innings in the victory, while new manager Craig Albernaz earned his first MLB win. O'Neill contributed with a single, walk and run scored in the tight contest.
BALTIMORE -- Tyler O'Neill's impressive streak of hitting a home run in six straight Opening Day games came to an end Thursday, but the Baltimore Orioles still celebrated a 2-1 season-opening victory over the Minnesota Twins before a sellout crowd of 42,134 at Camden Yards. The 30-year-old Canadian outfielder, who homered on Opening Days from 2020 to 2025 with the Cardinals, Red Sox and Orioles, went 1-for-2 with a single, a walk and a run scored. His single off Justin Topa in the seventh inning helped set up a two-run rally that proved decisive, with Blaze Alexander delivering an RBI single. O'Neill drew a nine-pitch walk from Joe Ryan earlier in the game. 'Homer wasn’t meant to be this time,' O'Neill said afterward. Despite the streak ending, he remained upbeat. 'Pressure’s off, obviously. I don’t really have to prove anything in that regard,' he had said last week. Following the game, he praised the team's performance: 'It was a good win, man. Fans were bringing it. A lot of energy out there. Opening Day at Camden is so special.' Trevor Rogers dominated on the mound, tossing seven scoreless innings to anchor the win. New closer Ryan Helsley secured the save, while Pete Alonso, the team's new first baseman, received a standing ovation in his debut at-bat. Manager Craig Albernaz, in his first MLB game at the helm, emphasized a 'Day One' mantra in the renovated clubhouse. 'You can change two words, it just changes your whole mindset, right?' Albernaz said. The victory marks a fresh start for Baltimore after a disappointing 75-87 last-place finish in the AL East in 2025, when O'Neill hit .199 with a .684 OPS in 54 games marred by three injured list stints. Signed to a three-year, $49.5 million deal before that season, O'Neill expressed optimism: 'I feel really good about myself... Really like where this clubhouse is right now, and we’re going to have some fun times this year.'
