Orioles Defeat Twins in Manager Albernaz's Debut

Trevor Rogers pitches seven scoreless innings in Baltimore's 2-1 win over Minnesota.

Mar. 27, 2026 at 3:25am

Got story updates? Submit your updates here. ›

Trevor Rogers pitched seven shutout innings and the Baltimore Orioles broke through on offense late to beat the visiting Minnesota Twins 2-1 and give Craig Albernaz a victory in his big-league managerial debut on Opening Day. Rogers limited the Twins to three hits and four walks while striking out five. Tyler Wells and Ryan Helsley each pitched an inning of relief to complete the combined five-hitter. Blaze Alexander drove in a run for the Orioles, while Adley Rutschman had two hits, including a double.

Why it matters

This was the first game for new Twins manager Derek Shelton and Orioles manager Craig Albernaz, who was hired from the Cleveland Guardians' coaching staff in the offseason. The game featured strong pitching performances from both starters, Rogers and Joe Ryan, as well as some late-inning drama with the Twins mounting a comeback in the eighth inning.

The details

Trevor Rogers limited the Twins to three hits and four walks while striking out five over seven shutout innings. Tyler Wells and Ryan Helsley each pitched an inning of relief to complete the combined five-hitter for the Orioles. Blaze Alexander drove in a run with a two-out single in the seventh inning, and Adley Rutschman had two hits, including a double, for Baltimore. The Twins scored their lone run in the eighth inning on a sacrifice fly by Luke Keaschall.

  • The game was the season opener for both teams on March 27, 2026.

The players

Trevor Rogers

The Orioles starting pitcher who threw seven shutout innings, limiting the Twins to three hits and four walks while striking out five.

Craig Albernaz

The new manager of the Baltimore Orioles, making his big-league managerial debut after being hired from the Cleveland Guardians' coaching staff in the offseason.

Derek Shelton

The new manager of the Minnesota Twins, making his debut with the team.

Blaze Alexander

The Orioles player who drove in a run with a two-out single in the seventh inning.

Adley Rutschman

The Orioles player who had two hits, including a double, in the game.

Got photos? Submit your photos here. ›

What they’re saying

“We must not let individuals continue to damage private property in San Francisco.”

— Robert Jenkins, San Francisco resident

“Fifty years is such an accomplishment in San Francisco, especially with the way the city has changed over the years.”

— Gordon Edgar, grocery employee

The takeaway

This game highlighted the strong pitching performances from both teams' starters, as well as the late-inning drama as the Twins tried to mount a comeback. It also marked the debuts of new managers Craig Albernaz for the Orioles and Derek Shelton for the Twins, setting the stage for what should be an interesting season ahead.