Last night at Target Field, the Orioles overcame a 6-0 sixth inning deficit to come back and beat the Minnesota Twins 9-6 in 10 innings. It was the first of a three-game set in Minneapolis as the Birds look for some revenge on the Twinkies, who took two of three in Baltimore in early April.
I was unfortunately unable to follow the game for the first few innings, being nowhere near a TV or internet. Well, I guess it wasn’t that unfortunate – I finally flipped on the game in the top of the seventh, just in time to see Manny Machado reach on a bunt and Nate McLouth score on the ensuing errant throw to cut the Minnesota lead to 6-4.
By the time the frame was over, the Birds had erased the lead completely, well on their way to overcoming a disappointing start from Jason Hammel. It looked as though they were about to take a lead of their own, as Crush Davis smashed one that somehow didn’t make it over the fence (how big is that field? Come on, man…couldn’t you have done two more push ups the other day and muscled up, Chris? Chump.) and was ultimately stranded on third base.
However, the O’s bullpen does what they do, as T.J. McFarland and Tommy Hunter combined to hold the Twins scoreless for five innings, allowing their teammates to put up nine unanswered runs. Five O’s combined for seven doubles (three by Davis) in the victory.
Jim Johnson came on in the bottom of the 10th for his Orioles-record 35th consecutive save, and the O’s took yet another series opener. They’re now 9-2 in such games of series and have two shots this weekend to win yet another series. They pushed their extra-innings record to 3-2.
Saturday, Steve Johnson makes his 2013 debut, taking on Vance Worley (0-4, 6.95) in what should be a very winnable game. Sunday, Wei-Yin Chen (2-3, 3.40) goes up against Scott Diamond (3-2, 3.03). New York and Boston continue to win games, so hopefully the O’s can take at least one more in Minny, before coming home for a nice long eight-game homestand against San Diego, Tampa, and the Yanks.
