Orioles hold off Yankees 7-6 in 10 innings after Gerrit Cole makes his season debut for New York

NEW YORK (AP) — Cedric Mullins hit a tiebreaking 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 on Wednesday night.

New York’s Gerrit Cole was charged with two runs over four innings in an up-and-down season debut after returning from an elbow injury. He was on the hook for his first loss since August 19 last year until Giancarlo Stanton rallied late for the Yankees.

The slugger greeted All-Star reliever Yennier Cano with a three-run homer that lifted the Yankees to 5-4 in the seventh, then hit a tying single off closer Craig Kimbrel (5-2) with one out in the ninth.

It was Kimbrel’s fourth save in 20 chances this season, but the Orioles came back.

Mullins hit an RBI single to center field off Clay Holmes (1-3), which scored auto runner Anthony Santander from second base with one out in the 10th. Mullins raced to second on the throw to the plate, then stole third and scored easily when catcher Jose Trevino’s toss sailed high into left field.

Dillon Tate retired the side for his ninth career save and first this season, with help from his defense. Santander made a diving catch in right-center on Ben Rice’s sacrifice fly, and catcher Adley Rutschman threw out pinch-runner Oswaldo Cabrera as he tried to steal second.

Ramón Urías broke a tie in the fifth inning with a two-run homer off Ron Marinaccio, one batter after Cole was withdrawn, and the Orioles got a pair of RBI doubles from Ryan O’Hearn.

Leadoff hitter Gunnar Henderson reached base safely three times, stole two bases and scored twice.

Henderson was hit on the right arm by a 90 mph sinker from Victor González, drawing cheers from the sellout crowd of 47,155. It appeared to be retaliation from the Yankees for Tuesday night, when star slugger Aaron Judge and second baseman Gleyber Torres were nailed by pitches.

Right sat out Wednesday with a sore left hand after X-rays and a CT scan came back negative Tuesday evening.

Orioles outfielder Colton Cowser also was bumped on the elbow pad and banged with his bat, but no problems followed.

Cole allowed three hits, struck out five and walked one while throwing 40 of his 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 his right elbow that sidelined him since spring training.

Orioles: 3B Jordan Westburg sat out with left hip discomfort and is day to day. He made up for Tuesday night’s loss after colliding with Yankees runner 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) will throw approximately five innings and 75 pitches in his second rehab start for Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday.

Yankees: Judge is day to day. He left Tuesday night’s game after being hit on 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 moved to the 60-day IL. … RHPs Scott Effross (lower back surgery) and JT Brubaker (elbow surgery) were scheduled to begin rehab assignments at Class A Tampa.

Orioles LHP Cole Irvin (6-3, 3.03 ERA) starts Thursday afternoon’s series finale against rookie RHP Luis Gil (9-1, 2.03).