By Steve Ginsburg

BALTIMORE (Reuters) - The New York Yankees left it late to dampen the Baltimore Orioles' first post-season appearance in 15 years with a 7-2 victory in the rain-delayed opener of their American League Division Series on Sunday.

New York erupted for five runs in the ninth inning, snapping a tense 2-2 tie and spoiling the party for the 47,841 orange-clad fans on a chilly night at a sold-out Camden Yards.

Russell Martin opened the inning by knocking a 91 mph belt-high, fast ball from Orioles' All-Star reliever Jim Johnson into the left field seats.

Martin's tie-breaking homer was followed by an RBI single by Ichiro Suzuki, a two-run double by Robinson Cano and a sacrifice fly by Nick Swisher.

Southpaw CC Sabathia got the win for New York, pitching 8 2/3 innings, before giving way to reliever David Robinson for the final out of a game that started two-and-a-half hours later than scheduled due to intermittent rain.

Game Two of the best-of-five series is also in Baltimore on Monday.

(Editing by John O'Brien)