Orioles offense explodes in historic Opening Day blowout

Baltimore Orioles Opening Day was worth the wait. Zach Eflin gave up two runs over 6.0 innings to get the season started in quality fashion and the bullpen shut down the Toronto Blue Jays over the last three innings. But the story of the day was the offense, which exploded for a franchise record six home runs in an Opening Day game.

The offense got off to a quick start when Adley Rutschman set the tone in the first inning. For the second time in his career, Rutschman blasted a home run in his first at-bat of the season. As the second batter of the Orioles season, Rutschman got the offense going with his 436 ft no-doubter. Eflin was locked in and didn't look like he would need much run support, but Adley's first inning shot was just a sign of things to come.

Rutschman's Opening Day success has been well documented but newcomer Tyler O'Neill was not to be outdone. O'Neill entered the game already holding the record with five consecutive Opening Day games with a home run. After drawing a walk in his first Orioles plate appearance, O'Neill recorded his first official at-bat in the third inning. With two men on O'Neill sent a 106.1mph missile over the right field wall to extend the Orioles lead to 5-0 while extending his own record to six straight Opening Day home runs.

Cedric Mullins joined the fun in the fourth inning. Having already driven in a run with and RBI single in the second inning, Mullins lined a solo shot over the Orioles bullpen in right field. It was a perfect start for the Birds center fielder who had been facing some criticism after a tough spring training, but it was about to get even better. Mullins delivered his second homer of the game in the seventh inning, this time a three run bomb that broke the game wide open.

Mullins became just the third Oriole in 72 years to hit multiple home runs on Opening Day joining Sam Horn (4/9/90) and the late great Brooks Robinson (4/6/73). That list was about to get a little longer. With the game already in hand, Rutschman crushed his second no doubter of the day in the eighth inning. A 108.5mph rocket that scored Jackson Holliday as well and extended the O's lead to 11-2.

The cherry on top came one batter later when Jordan Westburg snuck a ball just over the wall in center field to fill the second half of back-to-back home runs. The Birds six Opening Day homers set a franchise record, breaking the previous record of four (1982, 2006). They also tied the 2018 White Sox and 1988 Mets for the second most hit by a single team since 1901. Only the 2019 Dodgers have hit more when they powered eight Opening Day homers in 2019.

The Birds were solid in all aspects of the game. Defensive replacements Heston Kjerstad and Jorge Mateo hooked up to throw out Alejandro Kirk trying to stretch a single to a double in the ninth and Bryan Baker ended the game by striking out George Springer. It was an exciting day for the Orioles and a great way to start the season. One down, 161 to go.