Dozier, Twins Finish Sweep Of Orioles With 5-3 Win
MINNEAPOLIS (AP) — Brian Dozier and Joe Mauer hit back-to-back home runs with two outs in the sixth inning, propelling the Minnesota Twins past the Baltimore Orioles 5-3 Wednesday to complete a three-game sweep.
Manny Machado and Chris Davis hit consecutive homers off Casey Fien in the eighth for the Orioles, but Glen Perkins got his 28th save in 28 attempts with a perfect ninth.
Tommy Milone (5-1) stayed unbeaten in seven starts since being brought back from Triple-A Rochester at the beginning of June, striking out five in seven innings to lower his ERA to 2.84.
Orioles starter Ubaldo Jimenez pitched five scoreless innings, but he needed a season-high 110 pitches to finish them. Bud Norris (2-9), who was bumped from the rotation last week, took over in the decisive sixth
After Eric Fryer walked with one out, Dozier went deep for the team-leading 18th time this year to put the Twins in front. He knew the ball was gone the instant it left the bat, turning toward the Minnesota dugout to yell in celebration at his teammates as he began his run around the bases.
Dozier had two hits and two steals, strengthening his credentials among the five final vote candidates for the AL All-Star team. The Twins launched a marketing campaign for their second basemen, painting "#VoteDozier" behind the plate, parking a bulldozer on the plaza outside the ballpark and even soliciting an endorsement video from fellow Southern Mississippi alum Brett Favre.
Baltimore relievers have the best bullpen ERA in the major leagues during the last 2 1/2 months, but the bullpen was a bust in this game. Fryer, making his season debut after his recent promotion from Rochester, hit a two-run double in the seventh against Chaz Roe.
The lone left-hander in Minnesota's rotation, Milone scattered five hits and walked two. The only run he allowed came in the fourth on a double-play groundball hit by J.J. Hardy, two batters after a leadoff triple by Steve Pearce.
Minnesota improved to 28-15 at home and 12-4 against the AL East.
Baltimore lost for the sixth time in its last seven games.
The Twins went 0 for 9 with runners in scoring position against Jimenez, who gave up seven hits and three walks while striking out five. Eddie Rosario ended innings in all three of his at-bats against the right-hander, striking out with the bases loaded, popping up with men at second and third and grounding out with runners at the corners.
Jimenez has allowed one run in 20 innings over his last three starts.
TRAINER'S ROOM
Orioles: 1B Christian Walker, who was the DH, was recalled before the game from Triple-A Norfolk to take the roster spot of RHP Kevin Gausman, who went down for one start to keep the All-Star break from throwing him off schedule.
Twins: Rookie Miguel Sano played 3B for the first time this season, turning in a flawless performance in the field to go with two walks and a single. Sano has at least one hit in all seven games since his promotion from Double-A Chattanooga and has been retired only four times in the last four games.
UP NEXT
Orioles: In the opener of a three-game series, Chris Tillman is scheduled to start for the Orioles on Friday, opposite Tanner Roark of the visiting Nationals.
The Twins start a four-game series Thursday against Detroit, with Mike Pelfrey taking the mound against Tigers All-Star David Price.
(© Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.)