Twins 5, Orioles 3
MINNEAPOLIS -- The Minnesota Twins hit back-to-back homers for the first time this season and got seven strong innings from left-hander Tommy Milone in a 5-3 win over the Baltimore Orioles at Target Field on Wednesday.
The victory finished off the three-game series sweep of Baltimore, the Twins' first sweep of the Orioles since taking four games at Camden Yards in August 2007.
Minnesota had plenty of chances to score early against Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez but could not finish. The Twins left runners at third base three different times against Jimenez, who departed after five innings in line for his eighth victory.
But Minnesota got to Baltimore reliever Bud Norris in the sixth, as second baseman Brian Dozier gave the Twins a 2-1 lead with his 18th homer, a two-run shot into the seats in left. Designated hitter Joe Mauer followed with a solo homer, extending the Twins' lead to two.
For Mauer, the homer was his sixth of the season in his 84th game. He hit four home runs all of last season (120 games).
The middle-inning run support made a winner of Milone, who allowed one run on five hits and a pair of walks while striking out five, improving to 5-1. Milone has now allowed two runs or less in all six of his starts since being recalled from Triple-A Rochester on June 3.
Twins catcher Eric Fryer, recalled from Rochester following the game on Tuesday, earned the start behind the plate and had a pair of hits, including a two-run double in the seventh inning that put the Twins ahead 5-1.
It ended up being the game-winning hit.
Baltimore third baseman Manny Machado and right fielder Chris Davis hit back-to-back solo homers off Twins right-hander Casey Fien in the eighth inning to make it a two-run game. It was the 19th homer of the year for each.
Twins closer Glen Perkins worked a spotless ninth for his league-leading 28th save in 28 opportunities.
Norris (2-9) took the loss, allowing three runs on two hits and a walk in one inning of relief. It was Norris' ninth loss of the season, tied with three others for most in the American League.
Baltimore, which began the series tied with the Twins for the second wild-card spot in the AL, was swept in a three-game series for just the second time this season and the first since losing three to the Toronto Blue Jays April 21-23.
NOTES: Orioles RHP Kevin Gausman was optioned to Triple-A Norfolk. Sending Gausman to Norfolk will allow him to remain on schedule through the All-Star break next week. ... Orioles 1B Christian Walker was recalled from Norfolk. Walker played in six games with the Orioles last season, hitting .167 with one homer. Walker was in the lineup as the designated hitter, batting fifth on Wednesday. ... Twins C Eric Fryer was recalled from Triple-A Rochester following the game Tuesday and was in the lineup, batting eighth Wednesday. Fryer was hitting .299 in 51 games with Rochester this season. ... The Orioles are off on Thursday before returning home on Friday to begin a three-game series with the Washington Nationals at Camden Yards. ... The Twins open a four-game series with the Detroit Tigers at Target Field on Thursday.