Orioles Power Past Twins 5-2 Behind Three Home Runs, Strong Outing From Brandon Young
By Brian Hradsky | Maryland Sports Blog
The Baltimore Orioles defeated the Minnesota Twins 5-2 Tuesday night at Target Field, using three early home runs and six strong innings from Brandon Young to even the three-game series at one win apiece. Baltimore improved to 58-62 with the victory.
After being held in check by former Oriole Dean Kremer in Monday’s 9-5 loss, Baltimore wasted little time attacking Minnesota starter Bailey Ober. Pete Alonso, Gunnar Henderson and Christian Encarnacion-Strand all homered during the first three innings as the Orioles built a lead they never relinquished.
Alonso puts Baltimore ahead immediately
Henderson opened the game with a double before Alonso stepped to the plate and blasted a two-run home run off Ober, putting the Orioles ahead 2-0 before Minnesota recorded an out.
The home run was Alonso’s team-leading 26th of the season and marked his third consecutive game with a homer. Alonso finished 3-for-4 in another big offensive performance.
Baltimore continued the power display one inning later.
Henderson came to the plate in the second and launched a two-run homer, increasing the Orioles’ advantage to 4-0. Henderson finished 3-for-5 with a double, home run and two RBIs, falling a triple short of the cycle.
It was an encouraging performance from Henderson, who remains one of the most important pieces of Baltimore’s lineup.
Twins threaten, but Young limits the damage
Minnesota had an opportunity to completely change the game in the bottom of the second.
The Twins loaded the bases with nobody out against Young, but the Orioles right-hander prevented a potentially huge inning. Minnesota managed only one run, coming on an Alan Roden groundout.
Escaping that situation with only one run allowed became one of the biggest moments of the night. Instead of seeing the four-run lead disappear, Baltimore carried a 4-1 advantage into the third.
Encarnacion-Strand then gave Young another run to work with.
The Orioles infielder crushed a solo home run in the third inning that traveled an estimated 460 feet, his longest home run of the season, giving Baltimore a 5-1 lead. Encarnacion-Strand joined Alonso and Henderson with three hits in the victory.
Baltimore scored all five of its runs during the first three innings.
Young works through traffic
Young did not dominate Minnesota in the traditional sense. The Twins consistently put runners on base, but the 27-year-old continued finding ways out of trouble.
Minnesota trimmed Baltimore’s lead to 5-2 on an RBI double by Brooks Lee, but Young would not allow another run.
He finished six innings, allowing six hits and two runs, only one of which was earned. Young walked three, struck out four and improved to 9-3 on the season. It was his 10th quality start of the year.
The Twins’ biggest problem was their inability to cash in with runners in scoring position. Minnesota finished just 1-for-11 in those situations despite creating several opportunities.
For an Orioles rotation that has dealt with significant instability this season, Young continuing to give Baltimore competitive starts has become increasingly valuable.
Orioles bullpen shuts the door
Once Young departed, the Baltimore bullpen protected the three-run advantage.
Josh Walker worked a scoreless seventh before Yennier Cano followed with a scoreless eighth. Minnesota again threatened during the eighth, but Cano escaped without allowing a run.
Andrew Kittredge then entered for the ninth and retired the Twins in order to earn his sixth save of the season and complete Baltimore’s 5-2 victory.
Baltimore’s bullpen combined for three scoreless innings after Young’s departure.
Pozo leaves with hand injury
The Orioles did receive an injury scare behind the plate.
Catcher Yohel Pozo left the game during the third inning after Josh Bell’s swing struck him on the left hand. Bell was awarded first base because of catcher’s interference, while Pozo was removed with left index finger pain and replaced by Carlos Narváez.
The early news was encouraging. X-rays on Pozo’s finger were negative following the game.
His status will still be worth monitoring with Baltimore already having undergone significant changes at catcher this season.
MSB Take
This was a much-needed response from the Orioles after Monday’s frustrating loss.
Baltimore did exactly what it needed to do against Ober: attack early. Alonso, Henderson and Encarnacion-Strand gave Young a four-run cushion by the second inning and a 5-1 lead by the third.
Even more important was Young’s ability to survive innings when Minnesota appeared poised to break the game open. Allowing only one run after the Twins loaded the bases with nobody out in the second changed the complexion of the game.
The Orioles are only 58-62, so there remains very little room for prolonged losing streaks if they want to remain in the American League Wild Card conversation.
What remains encouraging is the middle of this Baltimore lineup.
Alonso continues to provide exactly the kind of legitimate middle-of-the-order power Baltimore hoped for, Henderson remains capable of taking over games, and Encarnacion-Strand added another reminder of the depth of power in the Orioles lineup.
Three home runs, six innings from the starter and three scoreless innings from the bullpen is a pretty simple formula for winning baseball.
Now the Orioles have an opportunity to turn the victory into a series win.
Baltimore and Minnesota will play the rubber match Wednesday afternoon at Target Field.
Final: Orioles 5, Twins 2
WP: Brandon Young (9-3)
LP: Bailey Ober (7-4)
Save: Andrew Kittredge (6)
Home runs: Pete Alonso (BAL), Gunnar Henderson (BAL), Christian Encarnacion-Strand (BAL)
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