BALTIMORE (AP) — Trey Mancini reached base four times without hitting the ball out of the infield.
It was that kind of night for the Baltimore Orioles, who took advantage of several big breaks to slow down surging Minnesota.
Cedric Mullins and Ramón Urías each hit a two-run homer during Baltimore’s six-run third inning, and Mancini had three infield hits in a 9-4 victory over the Twins on Wednesday night.
“We’ve been talking a lot about some of the bad breaks we’ve gotten. Some things went our way tonight,” Mancini said. “Sometimes, that’s the name of the game.”
The first-place Twins lost for just the second time in 13 games. Dylan Bundy (3-2) allowed nine runs and 11 hits in 3 2/3 innings against his former team.
Carlos Correa homered for Minnesota.
Kyle Bradish — traded to the Orioles by the Los Angeles Angels for Bundy in 2019 — gave up four runs and six hits in four innings, but the Baltimore bullpen was solid the rest of the way. Cionel Pérez (1-0) went two innings to earn the win.
On two of Mancini’s infield singles, he ended up on second because of throwing errors when Twins infielders rushed to try to get him at first.
“He kind of nubbed it in the right area for them to have to backhand and make a cross-body throw. I’m sure the speed intimidated,” Orioles manager Brandon Hyde deadpanned.
Mancini, who also drew a walk, has two stolen bases in his career.
While Minnesota was having a shoddy night defensively, Baltimore’s infield turned five double plays in the first seven innings — four on grounders up the middle, and one on a shallow fly.
Mullins homered to give the Orioles a 2-0 lead, and after consecutive walks, Austin Hays hit an RBI single. With two outs, Rougned Odor hit a hard line drive at rookie Jose…
Leave a Reply