Seven games into this young season, the Orioles have already matched up against Nathan Eovaldi, Gerrit Cole, Blake Snell and Tyler Glasnow. It is a collection of some of the American League’s most electric starting pitchers -- maybe a month’s worth of challenges for any offense, never mind one without some of its best players from a year ago.

And yet here the O’s are, not entirely unscathed but a game over .500 nonetheless after Saturday’s 5-4 win over the Rays in 11 innings at Oriole Park to put themselves in line to capture their first sweep of 2020. Baltimore’s win came courtesy of a team effort, with a Renato Núñez homer and RBI hits from Pedro Severino and Rio Ruiz backing a strong start from Wade LeBlanc -- all before Pat Valaika’s walk-off single off Chaz Roe capped off a wacky two innings of extra-inning play.

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Charged with navigating MLB’s new extra-innings rule for the first time, the Orioles turned unorthodox, some might say historic, double plays in both the 10th and 11th innings before triumphing behind timely two-strike hitting from Valaika.

“It was a special moment,” Valaika said. “I know baseball purists don’t love it, but I think there is something to quickening up these marathon extra-inning games.”

Making his second start in an Orioles uniform, LeBlanc allowed little more than Mike Brosseau’s sixth-inning solo homer over 5 1/3 frames, striking out three against one walk. He left with a lead because the O’s grinded against Glasnow, chasing the right-hander after 4 2/3 innings. Baltimore then battled back after its bullpen blew a three-run cushion in the eighth, rallying after Tanner Scott and Travis Lakins wiggled through jams in the 10th and 11th innings, respectively, to set up Valaika's heroics. For his efforts, Lakins earned his first MLB victory.

“It’s definitely different,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde said of the new extra-innings rule, which place an automatic runner on second base to start every inning after the ninth. “I’ve never done it before, and I am happy to get that one under my belt. I did enjoy it.”

Said LeBlanc: “It was exciting. I can say that because we came out on top, but I think I would feel the same way even if it went in the other direction. For me, personally, anything that can keep a game from going 19 innings, I’m all for it.”

The Orioles closed this one out in 11, in large part due to the new regulations in place. Here is a look at how they navigated what was a dramatic back-and-forth affair at Oriole Park:

10th inning: My oh Mullins
Has there ever been another inning-opening 7-5 double play in Major League history? Nope. Not until Saturday night. Not until Cedric Mullins caught Ji-Man Choi trying to advance to third on Yoshi Tsutsugo’s flyout to open the frame. The Rays played for the big inning and got burned, when Mullins' cannon of a throw one-hopped Ruiz at third to nab Choi by several feet, turning a no-out, runner-on-second situation into two outs with nobody on. Scott walked the next two hitters to make things interesting, but he fanned Kevin Keirmaier swinging to end the frame.

“It starts with Cedric getting behind the ball, not assuming he isn’t tagging on a ball to left field.“ Hyde said. “Then he threw a great one-hop throw, executed perfectly, to get a huge out there."

11th inning: 'Good day for him'
The Orioles began the 11th with a somewhat bizarre defensive alignment, slotting Ruiz, their regular third baseman, in left field and shifting veteran backup catcher Bryan Holaday to first base. Would you believe it worked out? Holaday was there to snag Manual Margot’s sharp liner, doubling off Keirmaier at second to make things breezy for Lakins. It was only Holaday’s second career MLB appearance at first base, and he was there only because José Iglesias, who pinch-hit in the half-inning prior, is still dealing with enough left quad soreness to remain limited defensively.

Per Statcast, balls hit similarly to Margot’s liner have an expected batting average of .610. Holaday had his contract selected only hours prior to Saturday's tilt, with the O’s promoting him to replace traded reliever Richard Bleier on the active roster. His inning at first base marked his Orioles debut; he then scored the game-winning run on Valaika’s hit.

“I am going to give [infield coach] Jose Flores credit with the positioning there,” Hyde said. “Holaday gets here today, makes the play and scores the winning run. Good day for him.”