Capturing the O’s 2018 Opening Day in photos

It isn’t only young players who make their big league debut on Opening Day.

It happens throughout Camden Yards each year. New ushers, new staff members, new concession workers and new media members.

On Thursday, Ty Lohr, a staff photographer and writer for The Evening Sun in Hanover, Pa., shot his first Opening Day representing BaltimoreBaseball.com.

Lohr was pinch-hitting for our staff photographer, Joy R. Absalon, who returns to the park this weekend after some extended spring training.

As I think you will agree, Ty did a heck of a job in his first day at Camden Yards.

Of course, it was a heck of a game to shoot on a beautiful afternoon in Baltimore. Check out these dozen images from Thursday.

We start with the obvious one — Orioles center fielder Adam Jones being interviewed postgame after his walkoff homer and after he was hit with two shaving cream pies — usually his move — by teammates Jonathan Schoop and Manny Machado.

Sure, it’s a little strange that we start the look at Thursday with the last image. But, really, what are you going to remember most about 2018’s Opening Day? Exactly.

OK, so you might remember this guy, too, when you look back at the 3-2 Orioles win. In his first Opening Day start, Dylan Bundy threw seven shutout innings, allowing five hits and a walk while striking out seven. The 25-year-old, former first round pick certainly thrived in Thursday’s limelight.

Remember what we wrote about first Opening Days? Well, perhaps no one was more excited than 24-year-old reliever Pedro Araujo. In a seven-year pro career that started as a 17-year-old in the Dominican Republic, Araujo has pitched just two innings above A ball. On Thursday, he was running down the orange carpet at Camden Yards as an Oriole.

The Orioles always do a great job with their Opening Day festivities, and that includes the care given to who receives the honor of throwing out the first pitch. This year it was recently retired athletic trainer Richie Bancells, who made a significant impact in his four decades with the organization. Jonathan Schoop and Adam Jones were among the Orioles who rallied around Bancells during the pregame festivities.

Opening Day is an official holiday in Baltimore. Skipping school or work and hanging out with your family at the ballpark is a time-honored tradition. Dyeing your beard orange isn’t as time-honored, but, hey, who’s judging?

You never know who you’re gonna see on Opening Day at Camden Yards. You might just run into a Hall-of-Famer or two, like Cal Ripken Jr., who is tied with Hall-of-Famer Brooks Robinson for the most Opening Day starts in club history with 20.

One of the more  interesting storylines on Thursday was the position switch on the left side of the infield. Gold Glover Manny Machado has moved to shortstop for the 2018 season and Tim Beckham is now the club’s starting third baseman. The switch went off without a hitch.

It took seven innings, but a scoreless tie was finally broken when Caleb Joseph hit a two-run triple in the bottom of the seventh inning. Trey Mancini (above) scored the season’s first run.

It wasn’t all orange balloons and walkoff homers on Thursday. Closer Brad Brach blew his first save opportunity of 2018 when he gave up a 2-0 lead on a two-run, broken-bat blooper in the bottom of the ninth. The Orioles rallied to win 3-2 in the bottom of the 11th.

Adam Jones knew he had crushed a Fernando Rodney fastball as soon as he made contact. The ball flew over the fence in a nanosecond, giving the Orioles their 10th walkoff win in a home opener in club history. And furthering Jones’ legacy as a franchise stalwart. 

Boys will be boys. Especially during walkoffs. The Orioles prepare to mug and douse Adam Jones at home plate. These are the faces of Opening Day joy.

We’ll basically end where we started. Manny Machado gets to pie the King of Pies, Adam Jones, after Jones’ completed the Orioles’ eighth straight Opening Day victory with an 11th inning homer.