Twins Rally Past Orioles Behind Third-Inning Onslaught

The Minnesota Twins reminded everyone on Wednesday night why you never take your foot off the gas in baseball. After Baltimore struck first with a run in the opening inning, the Twins responded with a devastating third-inning bombardment that essentially decided this game. Final score: 7-5, Minnesota. And honestly, it could have been worse for the Orioles if Shane Baz hadn’t mercifully been pulled after three innings of unmitigated disaster.

Let’s not bury the lede here: Baz was absolutely dreadful. Three innings pitched, nine hits allowed, five earned runs, and a walk. That’s not a baseball line; that’s a cry for help. The Orioles signed up for a competitive game on the road and instead got a pitching performance that looked like batting practice. Dylan Beavers, the Baltimore outfielder, at least provided some silver lining with a three-run homer in the third, but even that couldn’t carry the weight of Baz’s incompetence.

Third Inning Decides It

The Twins’ third inning was a masterclass in relentless offense. After Kody Clemens singled home Royce Lewis, Minnesota kept piling on. A sacrifice fly from Luke Keaschall scored Josh Bell. Victor Caratini’s line drive single brought home another run. Then Alan Roden doubled down the right field line, pushing two more across. Just like that, the Twins had four runs in the frame and a 5-1 lead. This wasn’t a lucky streak; this was Minnesota’s offense operating at peak efficiency against a Baltimore pitcher who had no business taking a major league mound on Wednesday.

Zebby Matthews got the win for Minnesota, and while his line of five innings, six hits, four earned runs, and four strikeouts won’t make highlight reels, he did exactly what a winning pitcher needs to do: he got out of the way and let his offense work. The Twins scored two more in the fifth to put this game into comfortable territory, with Trevor Larnach and Royce Lewis each notching RBIs.

Late Dramatics Don’t Change Reality

Leody Taveras hit a solo shot in the ninth for Baltimore, and sure, it made the final score look slightly less embarrassing. But let’s be real: a ninth-inning homer when you’re down to your final strike doesn’t constitute a comeback. It’s a participation trophy masquerading as competitive baseball. The Orioles had their chances throughout the game and simply didn’t capitalize, while Minnesota was merciless.

Josh Bell was outstanding for the Twins, going 3-for-5 with a run batted in and two runs scored. Alan Roden was equally impressive, collecting three hits in three at-bats with a double and an RBI. Those are the kinds of performances that win ballgames, and Minnesota got them from multiple sources.

For Baltimore, this was a winnable game that got away quickly thanks to atrocious pitching. Beavers’ power display was nice, and Taveras’ late-game heroics showed some fight, but neither matters when your starting pitcher serves up batting practice in the third inning. The Orioles need to find answers fast, because performances like Baz’s on Wednesday won’t cut it in a competitive American League East.