The Baltimore Orioles built an early three-run advantage Wednesday afternoon but could not hold it, falling to the Minnesota Twins, 7-5, at Target Field.
Baltimore jumped ahead 4-1 behind a three-run home run from Dylan Beavers in the third inning. Minnesota immediately answered with four runs in the bottom half, however, turning the game around and sending the Orioles to another frustrating loss.
The Twins finished with 14 hits compared with seven for Baltimore and took two of three games in the series.
Orioles Grab the Early Lead
Baltimore opened the scoring in the first inning.
Gunnar Henderson reached base and eventually scored when Jackson Holliday hit into a fielder’s choice, giving the Orioles a 1-0 lead.
Minnesota answered in the bottom half when Josh Bell drove in Trevor Larnach with a single to right field, tying the game at 1-1.
The Orioles then delivered their biggest swing of the afternoon in the third.
Pete Alonso and Tyler O’Neill reached base ahead of Beavers, who drove a 2-2 pitch over the right-field wall for a three-run home run.
Beavers’ third homer of the season gave Baltimore a 4-1 lead and appeared to put the Orioles in control.
It did not last long.
Minnesota Answers Immediately
Orioles starter Shane Baz could not provide the shutdown inning Baltimore needed.
Minnesota put together four runs in the bottom of the third, quickly erasing Baltimore’s advantage.
Kody Clemens drove in a run with a single before Luke Keaschall added a sacrifice fly. Victor Caratini followed with an RBI single to tie the game, and Alan Roden completed the comeback with an RBI double that gave the Twins a 5-4 lead.
The entire complexion of the game changed in one inning.
Baltimore went from holding a three-run advantage to trailing by one before the fourth inning began.
Baz lasted just three innings, allowing five earned runs on nine hits. He walked one and struck out two while taking the loss.
Twins Add Two More
Minnesota continued adding pressure in the fifth inning.
Larnach drove in another run with a groundout before Royce Lewis doubled home Roden to extend the Twins’ advantage to 7-4.
Lewis finished with two doubles, while Bell and Roden each collected three hits.
Minnesota received production throughout the lineup, which became a major difference in the game.
Baltimore had the bigger power swings, but Minnesota consistently put runners on base and created scoring opportunities.
Orioles Offense Goes Quiet
The Orioles scored four runs through the first three innings but struggled badly afterward.
Twins starter Zebby Matthews settled down after Beavers’ home run and completed five innings, allowing four runs on six hits.
Minnesota’s bullpen then kept Baltimore hitless through the sixth, seventh and eighth innings.
That drought prevented the Orioles from mounting a serious comeback while the game remained within reach.
Baltimore finally broke through again in the ninth.
Leody Taveras led off the inning with a solo home run to right field, cutting Minnesota’s lead to 7-5.
Franklin then walked, bringing the potential tying run to the plate.
The opportunity disappeared quickly.
Colton Cowser lined into a double play, with Franklin doubled off first base. Henderson then grounded out to end the game.
Yoendrys Gómez recorded the final three outs for his 17th save.
Baltimore’s Early Lead Goes to Waste
The Orioles had several reasons to believe Wednesday could become a series-clinching victory.
They scored first.
They received a three-run homer from Beavers.
They held a 4-1 advantage.
Instead, Minnesota erased that lead almost immediately.
For an Orioles team that cannot afford to give away winnable games, the four-run third inning was especially damaging.
Baltimore’s offense deserves some responsibility for producing only one hit after Beavers’ homer, but scoring four runs through three innings should have given the pitching staff enough room to protect the lead.
Baz could not do it.
Minnesota finished with 14 hits and received an RBI from seven different players.
That depth ultimately overwhelmed Baltimore.
MSB Take
This was the type of loss that becomes increasingly difficult to accept this late in the season.
The Orioles did the hard part. They built a 4-1 lead on the road and gave their starting pitcher room to work.
Baltimore needed a shutdown inning after Beavers’ three-run homer.
Instead, the Twins scored four times.
That sequence decided the game.
The Orioles showed some fight in the ninth when Taveras homered, but Baltimore had already wasted too many opportunities.
Beavers providing power is encouraging, and another late home run gave the lineup something positive to take away from the afternoon. However, individual positives matter much less when Baltimore continues dropping games it had opportunities to win.
The Orioles now have to regroup quickly.
At this point in the season, there are fewer chances to make up ground, and blowing a three-run lead against another American League opponent makes the road even more difficult.
Final: Minnesota Twins 7, Baltimore Orioles 5
Winning pitcher: Zebby Matthews
Losing pitcher: Shane Baz
Save: Yoendrys Gómez
Series: Minnesota wins, 2-1.
