NEW YORK — Cedric Mullins hit a game-breaking single in the 10th inning and scored on a throwing error to help the Baltimore Orioles hold off the New York Yankees 7-6 in a wild finish Wednesday night.
After losing the series opener on Tuesday in a matchup between the American League’s top teams, the Orioles bounced back to improve to 4-2 against the rival Yankees this year. Baltimore won for the 19th time in 26 total games and moved within 1 1/2 games of New York at the top of the AL East.
“It’s a big win,” coach Brandon Hyde said after his team improved to 18-7 against division foes. “Very happy with the way we fought, competed. You can give up the lead and continue to fight offensively, that shows a lot about our club.”
New York ace Gerrit Cole was charged with two runs in four-plus innings in his season debut after returning from an elbow injury. He was about to suffer his first loss since August 19 of last year until Giancarlo Stanton rallied the Yankees late.
The slugger greeted All-Star reliever Yennier Cano with a three-run home run that pulled New York to 5-4 in the seventh, then hit a 190 mph RBI single off closer Craig Kimbrel (5-2) for tie with one out in the ninth.
“It was quite a game. It really was,” Yankees manager Aaron Boone said.
It was Kimbrel’s fourth save in 20 chances this season, but the Orioles rallied.
Mullins, who began the night batting .188, launched an RBI single off Clay Holmes (1-3) that scored automatic runner Anthony Santander from second base with one out in the 10th. Mullins ran to second on the base throw, then stole third and scored easily when catcher Jose Trevino’s throw sailed high into left field.
“I just couldn’t control it well. It knocked it down,” Trevino said. “Probably should have eaten.”
Mullins and Gunnar Henderson each stole two bags against Trevino, who gave up a Red Sox record nine steals Sunday night in Boston.
Dillon Tate got three kills for his ninth career save and first this season with the help of his defense. Santander made a catch in right center on Ben Rice’s sacrifice fly, and catcher Adley Rutschman threw out runner Oswaldo Cabrera trying to steal second.
“That was the launch of the year right there. A great move,” Hyde said. “It’s an incredible play, and Santander is playing absolutely from behind in every facet. Just a total flurry, great play.”
Ramón Urías broke the tie in the fifth inning with a two-run home run off Ron Marinaccio, a hit after Cole was pulled, and the Orioles got a pair of RBI doubles from Ryan O’Hearn.
Henderson took the lead safely three times and scored twice.
He was also hit in the right arm by a 90 mph (150 km/h) sinker from Victor González, eliciting cheers from the sellout crowd of 47,155. It appeared to be retaliation from the Yankees on Tuesday night when slugger Aaron Judge and second baseman Gleyber Torres were hit by pitches.
“No way. Just trying to make a good throw in there. I just escaped,” González said through a translator.
The judge was sidelined on Wednesday with a sore left hand after x-rays and a CT scan on Tuesday night came back negative.
Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser was also hit in the elbow and hit with the bat, but there were no problems.
“I know it wasn’t intentional,” Cowser said. “I just freaked out.”
Cole allowed three hits, struck out five and walked one while throwing 40 of 62 pitches for strikes. The reigning AL Cy Young Award winner made three minor league rehab starts after recovering from nerve inflammation and edema in the right elbow who had sidelined him since spring training.
“It was a little bit of a special game for me,” said Cole, who was on the 65-shot limit. “It was just a long few months, a lot of emotions.”
TRAINER’S ROOM
Orioles: 3B Jordan Westburg sat out with discomfort in his left hip and is day to day. He came out of Tuesday night’s loss after colliding with Yankees baserunner Juan Soto. … RHP Kyle Bradish underwent season-ending Tommy John surgery. … LHP Danny Coulombe could return in September after surgery Tuesday to remove bone chips from his throwing elbow. … RHP Dean Kremer (triceps strain) is scheduled to throw about five innings and 75 pitches Saturday in his second rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk.
Yankees: Judge is day to day. He left Tuesday night’s game after being hit in the hand by a 90 mph fastball from Baltimore starter Albert Suárez. … Cole was reinstated from the 60-day injured list and 1B Anthony Rizzo (broken right forearm) was transferred to the 60-day IL. … RHPs Scott Effross (lumbar surgery) and JT Brubaker (elbow surgery) were set to begin rehabilitation duties at Class A Tampa.
NEXT
Orioles LHP Cole Irvin (6-3, 3.03 ERA) starts the rubber match of the three-game series Thursday afternoon against rookie RHP Luis Gil (9-1, 2.03).
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