Sabathia, Martin lead Yankees to Game 1 victory

• Rain delayed the beginning of Game 1in Baltimore
• The Yankees scored in the first inning off Hammel
• Russell Martin hits the go-ahead home run in the ninth

AL Division Series, Game 1, from Baltimore's Camden Yards

Yankees 7, Orioles 2: Yankees' Russell Martin hits the go-ahead home run in the ninth.

State of the Series: The Yankees tried to be aggressive from the beginning but not much seemed to work with three runners cut down on the bases. Still, they continued to show they're just a little bit better than the Orioles. They were two games better in the standings, came up with three of the blemishes on Baltimore 29-9 one-run record and even provided the Orioles' only two extra-inning losses all year. They took all of Baltimore's best shots and magical moments and simply outlasted the Orioles. If that doesn't change Monday, this series could be over quickly.

Game 1 Pivot Point: Sabathia handled the moments when the Orioles and their raucous crowd could have grabbed the momentum, especially with two runners on and one out in the fifth inning. Sabathia was facing Nate McLouth, who had driven in Baltimore's only two runs two innings earlier. He struck out McLouth and got J.J. Hardy to hit into an inning-ending forceout. He also retired Chris Davis in the sixth after a Derek Jeter error put a second runner base and extended the inning. The biggest one, though, was in the eighth, when Hardy led off with a double. Sabathia retired Adam Jones, Matt Wieters and Mark Reynolds without allowing a ball out of the infield.

Man of the Moment: Russell Martin was in the middle of plenty that didn't work out for the Yankees – until he crushed Jim Johnson's pitch into the left-field seats leading off the ninth. It was Martin who flied out with two runners on to end a fourth inning that could have broken open the game. He was the one gunned down at the plate in the seventh as Baltimore clung to a 2-2 tie. But the guy with a .214 batting average in 24 previous post-season games – and just .176 with the Yankees last season -- got the game-winner.

Needing a mulligan: Orioles closer Johnson allowed two runs over his previous 26 outings on his way to a club-record 51 saves. He gave up all five runs in the disastrous ninth. Baltimore has thrived because of its bullpen and Johnson will have to be there if the Orioles are to advance.

What you missed on TV: Orioles fans were so wound up, especially after a 2:26 rain delay, for their first playoff game in 15 years, cheering anything orange and booing everything Yankees. But in the midst of the pregame euphoria, they totally missed former Yankees manager Joe Torre taking a long walk from the right field corner to just behind home plate. Maybe they didn't recognize him in a trench coat. As an MLB representative on site, Torre was helping coordinate the delayed start time with the teams, the grounds crew and TV.

Overshadowed Hero: When Matt Wieters came out of his crouch, it was time for the Yankees to sit down. The Baltimore catcher wiped out the Yankees' attempt to take quick control of the series in the first inning then saved the Orioles in the seventh with the game's best defensive play. Wieters gunned down Ichiro Suzuki trying to steal third base in the first inning on the first pitch after his hit-and-run double gave the Yankees a 1-0 lead after just two batters. Suzuki was up again in the seventh with the game tied and runners on second and third with one out. The infield was in and Suzuki hit the ball right at second baseman Robert Andino. His throw was low but Wieters made a one-handed, short-hop grab just in time to sweep a tag on Russell Martin. Alex Rodriguez then struck out to end the inning and the game remained tied.