BALTIMORE — The Yankees found hope at the bottom Saturday night. 

A pair of hitters who were at the end of the lineup and down on their luck came through for the most critical swings of their seasons so far. 

No. 7 hitter Aaron Hicks, who was searching for playing time, and No. 9 hitter Anthony Volpe, who was searching for a way out of a slump, both found what they were looking for to help lift the Yankees to a 4-1 victory at Camden Yards, setting up a Sunday matinee rubber game.

Volpe and Hicks, who entered play a combined 3-for-28 (all the hits by Volpe), showed hope of snapping out of their funks.

The bullpen, which featured a bounce-back effort from Michael King, and the offense, highlighted by a mammoth solo shot from Giancarlo Stanton in the fifth inning that cushioned the lead, made five strong, one-run innings by rookie starter Jhony Brito stand up. 

Hicks, who was starting for just the third time this season, seemed destined to remain buried on the depth chart after another corner outfielder, Willie Calhoun, was called up earlier in the day.

The 33-year-old Hicks has been open about his frustration over his lack of a role.

He has been reduced to a part-time gig, typically against opposing lefties. 

“I’m sure he’s not happy necessarily about the situation,” manager Aaron Boone said, “but doesn’t stop you from being a pro. The reality is he’s worked hard, and he’s been ready.” 

Against opposing lefty Cole Irvin, Hicks heard boos — and not from Orioles fans — when he stepped up in the fourth inning with the Yankees down 1-0.

But two outs and Anthony Rizzo on third, Hicks got a fastball over the middle of the plate and grounded a single up the middle for his first hit and RBI of the season, tying the score. 

“Felt good,” Hicks said after he went 1-for-4, adding that finding his timing is his biggest challenge right now. “Just being able to see a pitcher’s arm action, being on time for heaters. That’s definitely the hardest part about it.” 

The score was still tied in the fifth inning when Volpe, who was in a 1-for-15 skid that included seven strikeouts, blasted a triple off the right-field wall for the first extra-base hit of his short major league career.

One pitch later, DJ LeMahieu crushed a double down the left-field line that knocked in Volpe, who scored his third career run, this one to give the Yankees the lead. 

Ever since Boone dubbed the 21-year-old the Yankees’ shortstop, Volpe has been under a microscope that has analyzed his every play.

Volpe’s glove work over his first eight games has been solid, if not spectacular, but his bat had lagged until his big triple Saturday. 

Volpe was the proud owner of the player-of-the-game belt, for which he credited his teammates. 

“I was going through it and struggling, and they were there for me every step of the way,” said Volpe, who went 1-for-4 and had another strong at-bat, a 10-pitch battle that ended in a flyout in the ninth. “To get recognized by them makes it better than getting recognized by anyone else.” 

On what became a nice day for redemption, King pitched scoreless sixth and seventh innings, allowing one hit and striking out three. 

King, returning from a fractured elbow that ended his 2022 season in July, had struggled in his first two outings this season and had velocity readings that were down from their heights of last year.

But King said he “went down a rabbit hole” and discovered his velocity was down last April, too, before it picked up. 

“I think it’s also just April, coming off an injury,” King said, adding that the cold weather is a possible contributing factor. “Just kind of keeping that velo, and hopefully it will slowly and steadily rise.” 

Wandy Peralta pitched a scoreless eighth before Clay Holmes picked up his second save of the season with a drama-free ninth.

The bullpen’s strength helped ensure Brito’s work mattered. 

Brito, who is only pitching because of a crush of injuries to Carlos Rodon, Luis Severino and Frankie Montas, was recalled from Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre earlier Saturday.

He allowed one run on three hits and two walks. 

“It wasn’t perfect by any means. He pitched behind in the count some,” Boone said. “But he never gives in, and he never gets flustered. It’s a great attribute to have.” 

And it helped the Yankees to their fifth win of the season, with Brito, Hicks and Volpe leading the way, something that would have been stunning a month ago or even a few days ago.