Recap: Baltimore vs. Minnesota
Sports Network | September 14, 2008
Baltimore, MD (Sports Network) - Denard Span had two hits, two runs scored while driving in another as every Twins starter had a hit to help Minnesota defeat the Orioles, 12-6, and sweep a doubleheader.
The Twins defeated Baltimore earlier in the day, 12-2, and now sit in a virtual tie with the White Sox atop the AL Central after Chicago's scheduled doubleheader with Detroit was postponed.
Brendan Harris homered as part of a 2-for-4 effort with two RBI and three runs scored. Matt Tolbert had two triples and scored three times for the Twins, who have won four of five. Bobby Korecky (2-0) pitched 2 1/3 scoreless innings to earn the win.
Glen Perkins struggled and couldn't stay in the game long enough to win the game. The rookie threw only three innings, giving up six runs on five hits while striking out two and walking two.
Brian Roberts had three hits while Oscar Salazar hit a three-run homer for Baltimore, which has dropped four of its past five contests.
Garrett Olsen (9-8) had the shortest outing of his career, lasting just two- thirds of an inning and allowing six runs on five hits and a walk to earn the loss.
Minnesota put up a six-spot in the opening frame. The first three batters loaded the bases on a single, walk and hit batsman. Justin Morneau followed with a single that plated two runners. Randy Ruiz hit an RBI single to make it 3-0 early.
Harris added an RBI single two batters later and Carlos Gomez gave the Twins a 6-0 first inning advantage with a double to center that scored two runners and ended Olsen's brief stint on the mound.
Baltimore answered with two runs in the home half. Nick Markakis drew a one- out walk and Melvin Mora singled him over to second. Aubrey Huff drove an RBI double to right to plate one, and Adam Jones followed with a sacrifice fly to make it a 6-2 game.
The Twins widened their lead in the second. Tolbert hit a leadoff triple and Mike Redmond singled him home for a 7-2 lead. In the third, Harris worked a walk, went to second on a wild pitch and scored on a Span RBI single. Tolbert followed with his second triple of the game to plate Span and Redmond made it 10-2 with an RBI single.
The Orioles kept clawing back, plating four in the third. Roberts singled and Markakis walked. Two outs later, Jones hit an RBI single, and Salazar followed with a three-run blast off Perkins to make it 10-6.
Adam Everett's RBI single in the fourth gave Minnesota an 11-6 lead. Harris' solo homer in the seventh off Rocky Cherry extended the Twins' advantage to six once again.
Harris' homer was his seventh of the season...Redmond, Morneau, and Gomez all had two RBI in the game...Baltimore left 10 men on base, while the Twins stranded five.
