Jones' ninth-inning single lifts Orioles past Twins
MINNEAPOLIS -- Adam Jones' two-run single in the top of the ninth inning lifted the Baltimore Orioles to a 5-3 win over the Minnesota Twins on Tuesday night at Target Field.
Baltimore has won three straight games and sits tied atop the American League East with the Boston Red Sox.
Minnesota has lost six straight games and 10 of its past 11 overall.
With the game tied at 3-3 in the ninth, Twins right-hander Kevin Jepsen got a strikeout and a pop out in foul territory to start the inning. But a double to left by Joey Rickard and an intentional walk to Manny Machado put two men on for Jones, who smashed a shot toward Twins left fielder Oswaldo Arcia.
Arcia didn't take a proper route to the ball and it landed in front of him, caroming off Arcia's foot when his diving attempt at a catch came up short. Both runners, who had advanced to second and third on a wild pitch, scored on the play.
Machado had three hits, including his 10th homer, and walked twice.
Darren O'Day got the win in relief of Kevin Gausman, pitching one inning of relief.
Jepsen took the loss, dropping to 2-4 on the season. Jepsen was charged with two runs, both earned, on three hits and a walk in an inning of work.
Gausman allowed three runs on five hits and two walks, striking out nine in a no-decision.
Twins right-hander Jose Berrios also got a no-decision, allowing three runs on eight hits and a walk in five innings. Berrios fanned six in his third career start.
Minnesota cracked the scoreboard in the first inning, using back-to-back one-out singles to ignite the rally.
Eduardo Nunez and Brian Dozier each singled to put runners on the corners with one out for Trevor Plouffe, whose deep fly to center scored Nunez from third.
Baltimore got even in the fourth. After a one-out double by Mark Trumbo, Matt Wieters followed with a sharp single past an outstretched Joe Mauer at first, scoring Trumbo.
Machado and Jones hit back-to-back homers two pitches apart in the fifth as Baltimore took a 3-1 lead.
NOTES: Twins RHP Kyle Gibson threw a bullpen session Tuesday as he recovers from a strained right throwing shoulder that has had him on the 15-day disabled list since April 27. Gibson will throw in the bullpen again Friday. ... Twins 1B Joe Mauer hit leadoff for the first time in his major league career. He entered the day with the highest on-base percentage in the American League (.420). ... The Orioles and Twins are scheduled to wrap up their three-game series at Target Field on Wednesday. Baltimore will send RHP Tyler Wilson (1-1, 3.04 ERA) to the bump against Minnesota RHP Phil Hughes (1-5, 5.85 ERA).