Sep 28, 2024; Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA; Baltimore Orioles starting pitcher Matt Bowman (51) throws to the Minnesota Twins in the second inning at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Bruce Kluckhohn-Imagn Images
MINNEAPOLIS—With home-field advantage clinched in the wild-card round, manager Brandon Hyde decided to rest some of his regulars in the next-to-last game of the season. Colton Cowser, Gunnar Henderson, Cedric Mullins and Jordan Westburg weren’t in the starting lineup.
Those absences didn’t matter as the Orioles beat the Minnesota Twins, 9-2, before 30,558 at Target Field on Saturday night.
Emmanuel Rivera had four hits and drove in four runs with two home runs and a double. He singled in the ninth. Ryan O’Hearn hit a two-run home run in the first, his second in as many games. Adley Rutschman’s run-scoring single in the second gave the Orioles (90-71) a 5-0 lead, and Rivera’s RBI double in the third made it 6-0.
Ryan Mountcastle’s sacrifice fly extended the lead to 7-0 in the fourth, and Rivera’s second home run made it 8-0 in the fifth. Rutschman’s infield out in the seventh scored the final run.
Matt Bowman was chosen as the Orioles’ opener. After he allowed a hit in 1 1/3 innings, Tucker Davidson (1-0), whose contract was purchased from Triple-A Norfolk on Saturday, pitched 4 2/3 scoreless innings, giving up four hits, with a walk and two strikeouts.
Yennier Cano, Cionel Pérez pitched scoreless innings before Ryan Jeffers hit a two-run home run off Keegan Akin in the ninth. It was the Orioles’ ninth straight win over Minnesota.
The Twins (82-79) started Zebby Matthews (1-4), who struck out 114 and walked just seven in 97 minor league innings. He didn’t resemble a pitcher with those stats against the Orioles.
Matthews allowed six runs on seven hits, walking three and striking out five in three innings.
In constructing their roster, the Orioles have added depth, and right-handed power. They’ve got options…
Question: Do you see Coby Mayo starting his year in Triple-A? We have a squeeze…
It might be hard to believe that Tyler Wells is already 31 years old. He’s…
Question: Why isn't Kyle Bradish considered a No. 1 starter? He finished 4th in Cy…
In the beginning, the Orioles wanted Fran Moulden for her looks. The year was 1968.…
Two weeks from today, pitchers and catchers have their first workout at the Ed Smith…