Wilkerson hits go-ahead HR as O's take Game 1

BALTIMORE -- A day after pitching a perfect ninth inning as the Orioles were being blown out, Stevie Wilkerson hit a two-run home run in the seventh inning in a 2-1 win over the Rays in the first game of a day-night doubleheader on Saturday.

“They’re both good for the memory bank,” the 27-year-old rookie said. “I’ll never forget either of those. I’ll take today’s over yesterday’s for sure.”

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The Orioles hit five singles in the first six innings. Anthony Santander led off the seventh with a single against Colin Poche (2-2). With one out, Wilkerson hit a 2-2 pitch over the center-field wall, his eighth of the season to put the O's ahead.

“I was just able to hang in there long enough to get one to hit.," Wilkerson said. "I put a couple good swings on the ball the at-bat before that and was feeling pretty good. I just hung in there long enough to get a good one to hit.”

Richard Bleier (1-0) was the winner. Aaron Brooks, in his Orioles’ debut, recorded eight outs without allowing a hit. Jimmy Yacabonis relieved Brooks and gave up Mike Zunino’s fifth homer and 100th of his career.

Mychal Givens worked the final two innings and didn’t allow a baserunner, earning his seventh save. It was Givens’ first save since June 11.

The Orioles won their first one-run game since they beat Texas, 12-11, on June 4.

“I love those games,” Wilkerson said. “Watching pitchers do their thing, especially on our side of the ball. To watch Brooks come in and throw really well and the rest of the bullpen come in and throw really well, it’s baseball and it’s fun to be a part of.”

The Orioles improved to 28-63. Last year, they didn’t win their 28th game until their 97th game, so they’re six games ahead of where they were in 2018.

“Mychal Givens comes in and gets six big outs for us at the end of the game,” manager Brandon Hyde said. “It was a nice game of pitching, we did a really good job, played good defense.”