Twins Rally To Beat Orioles 9-6
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Kennys Vargas had three hits, including a big two-run double in the fifth inning, hours after being recalled from the minors to help lead the Minnesota Twins to a 9-6 win over the Baltimore Orioles on Friday night.
Trevor Hildenberger (1-0) pitched 2 1/3 innings of scoreless relief for his first major-league win as the Twins rallied from a 6-0 hole to send Baltimore to its fifth straight defeat. Vargas' two-run double off reliever Miguel Castro (1-1) tied the score in the fifth, and Chris Gimenez's RBI single completed the impressive comeback one batter later.
Manny Machado homered twice and had his second four-hit game of the year. Seth Smith also homered as he and Machado went deep back-to-back to lead off the game against Twins rookie Felix Jorge.
Brandon Kintzler pitched the ninth for his American League-best 24th save.
Orioles starter Kevin Gausman appeared headed for his third win in a row before allowing a leadoff triple to Brian Dozier in the fifth, followed by Robbie Grossman's double to make it 6-3. Max Kepler chased Gausman with an RBI single after a throwing error by Machado at third allowed Miguel Sano to reach and set the stage for Vargas.
On a news-filled day for Minnesota — Kintzler's All-Star selection, Joe Mauer placed on the disabled list, Bartolo Colon agreeing to a minor-league deal — Vargas' recall from Triple-A Rochester would've otherwise been lost in the noise.
Machado added a three-run shot in the third that quickly put Baltimore up 5-0. Jorge lasted only 2 2/3 innings, allowing six runs and seven hits.
Byron Buxton had an RBI-single and came around to score in the eighth to add some insurance.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Chris Davis (oblique) took batting practice and fielded grounders before the game, and manager Buck Showalter said he could potentially be activated next Friday. Showalter said Davis would begin a minor-league rehab assignment on Monday, and hopefully take part in a post-All Star workout next Thursday.
Twins: Mauer (lower back strain) was placed on the 10-day DL, retroactive to Wednesday. The Twins hope the short stint combined with the All-Star break minimizes time missed. Manager Paul Molitor said he hoped Mauer could be ready for next Saturday's game at Houston. ... LHP Hector Santiago (back pain) is undergoing rehab but isn't throwing yet. An MRI showed no structural damage.
CALLING KINTZLER
Kintzler learned he was named to his first All-Star team, as a replacement, Friday morning during a phone call with Molitor. "I thought I was getting traded for something," he said of the call. Kintzler has made the most of his time since taking over Glen Perkins' closer role last season. "My main focus was trying to get my career back on track. I didn't care about what role it was, it just happened to be that role."
UP NEXT
Orioles: LHP Wade Miley tries to bounce back from his 1 2/3 innings performance in Monday's 8-1 loss to Milwaukee. Showalter said Miley told him he wanted to go into the All-Star break on a good note. "Out of all the things that could possibly happen good for the Orioles, that was the one we thought had the best return on it."
Twins: LHP Adalberto Mejia (4-3) tries for his fourth-straight win. Mejia owns a 1.53 ERA during his winning streak.
(© Copyright 2017 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)
